Supported Accomodation
Stable and quality accommodation for those requiring a medium level of community-based support.
Our Supported Accommodation Services
There is a distinct lack of quality, stable, safe and semi-independent accommodation for people with serious and enduring mental health problems. This represents a gap in the pathway to full independence and results in people remaining in 24-hour residential care longer than they need to.
Function of Supported Accommodation
Our service acts as:
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Stable and quality accommodation for those requiring a medium level of community-based support
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A step-down service from 24-hour residential care
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Service User Profile
Although all admissions are based on a pre-admission assessment, including a risk assessment, a typical resident profile is as follows:
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Local to the Bedford, Luton, Dunstable and central Bedfordshire areas area
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Diagnosed mental health problem and dual diagnosis of substance misuse and/or a learning disability
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In receipt of secondary mental health services and has a community care plan in place
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Possibly subject to CTO
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Over 18 years of age
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Male or female
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May have a history of challenging behaviour
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May have a history of failing to engage with services
Accommodation
We have partnered with a local non-profit organisation who provide stable and quality accommodation for residents. These buildings are Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) and each tenant has fully or partially self-contained unit retained under an Licence Agreement.
The standards for all of our accommodation comply with guidelines detailed in the document “Standards in the Private Rented Sector” (Bedford Borough Council 2008).
General Care and Support
Our model is based on our staff delivering a supportive package which is based on each individual resident’s needs and incorporates specific interventions. Accordingly, the hours making up each package vary.
Additionally, there is a 24 hour on-call service contactable by a free-phone number from the house. Throughout the night there are Night Wardens on duty whose responsibility it is to ensure the residents, the house and all others are kept safe and secure during the nigh time hours.
Social Care
The social care component of our supportive framework is overseen by our CQC registered, domiciliary care service “Francis House Homecare”. In almost all circumstances support delivered in our supported accommodation service will not involve personal care but may do at times. Our interventions include:
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Working with the resident to formulate a care and risk management plan as well as an agreed activity programme
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Support with medication management including dealing with symptoms and side-effects
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Support to assess functions and promoting skills acquisition such as employment-seeking skills.
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Monitoring of the service user’s mental health or other condition and help to manage symptoms
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Effective management of the negative and positive symptoms associated with psychosis such as self-neglect, an inability to self- motivate, self-isolation paranoid ideation, persecutory thoughts and anti-social behaviour associated with serious mental health problems.
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Support with social activities and companionship such as attending clubs and meetings.
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Support with accessing community primary care services such as a G.P.
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Support with improving skills across all areas of the activities of daily living such as paying bills, cleaning, laundry, shopping, budgeting and preparing and cooking meals.
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Support from specialist rehabilitation workers to assess functions and promoting skills acquisition such as employment-seeking skills.
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Assessing and managing risk across all areas including environmental
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Gradual exposure to the community i.e. using public transport
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Supporting the resident to access mainstream community services
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Accessing leisure services
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Working assertively with the service user to access supported employment and educational services
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Building meaningful relationships
Housing Related Support
The non-profit organisation takes the lead in delivering housing-related support. This will be agreed with the individual service user and will be delivered by a Support Worker. Although the exact scope of housing related support delivered will be agreed with the individual resident a summary of such support will include:
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Assistance with housing and welfare benefits
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Advice, advocacy and liaison with other housing related agencies
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Peer support and befriending
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Resettlement when setting up and establishing a new tenancy
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Provision of alarm systems
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Advice and help with cleaning, decorations, repairs, maintenance
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Monitoring for the residents reaction to more independent living, existing housing related support and the need for alternative and / or additional housing related support
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Support and liaison with neighbours
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Advice and practical support to maintain utilities and other services such as internet, satellite television, and a free phone telephone service
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Advice and support to maintain the garden and the area surrounding the house
Referrals to this service are made via the usual routes of local CMHTs and other teams in secondary mental health and learning disability services (etc) including the use of our simple referral form to be found on this website
