St Barts

St Barts has been developed as a 10 unit service to support individuals with enduring mental health conditions alongside severe multiple disadvantage and learning disability/ASD. The cohort supported will have experienced numerous placement breakdowns in the past, will likely have not had their needs met by previous provision and/or have been discharged from hospital in to the community. Due to the complex trauma experienced by the individuals they will likely have behaviours that challenge, including high risk behaviours towards themselves and/or others.

The team consists of a number of recovery case workers, a recovery team leader and a service manager. They will be providing intensive wraparound support that will include; crisis interventions, co-ordination of care/support, housing support and risk management.  They will work closely with community link workers from health, mental health and drugs/alcohol services to ensure that the people using the service have all the tools they need to support in their own recovery.

After recognising the impact of trauma and discussions around the importance of remaining person centred it was decided that at present there is no end date to support, residents will be able to take steps towards independence at their own pace, with the overall aim for the service being to support those with multiple disadvantage to sustain a home and improve their wellbeing. Additionally, due to the complexities of the cohort, the service will be staffed 24 hours a day.

Referrals will come directly through commissioning leads in mental health and LD/ASD where they will then be discussed at panel, those who have been reviewed will then be assessed by the team, transition work will then occur for those who will be moving in to service.

This service is an exciting step for Target, being the first 24/7 service operating and utilising this model of support.

Thrive

THRIVE provides a unique package of permanent accommodation and life-long support for vulnerable people, who have experienced lives characterised by adverse experiences, trauma and chaos. THRIVE clients have experienced drug and alcohol problems, mental health problems and chronic health conditions, against a background of homelessness, insecure accommodation, difficulties with tenancy sustainment, involvement in the criminal justice system and exclusion elsewhere. Clients become ‘members’ of THRIVE for life and in the case of chronic and terminal conditions people will be supported to access palliative care and end-of-life care.

THRIVE seeks to support people to achieve stability and an improved quality of life, rather than focusing on the problem behaviours, and expecting radical change. Whilst the package involves support to access health care, drug and alcohol treatment and mental health support, there is also a budget for activities, and to fund the interests and hobbies that clients might be encouraged to resume or take up. There is a focus on positive experiences and relationships, resilience and coping.

The service operates Monday to Friday, 9 – 5pm and so additional care and support packages are commissioned from social care, outside of these hours, where needed.

See our case study here