Medway: Addressing increasingly complex needs

• A mental health nurse has been employed to work with Medway’s supported housing providers
• The nurse is able to provide direct help while waiting for access core NHS services
• Providers have also put in bespoke plans with one using trainee counsellors to support residents

The needs of people being referred into support housing are increasing. In response to that, Medway Council and its providers have worked hard to offer extra support to help those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Medway Support Housing Improvement Programme Manager Francesca Roma said: “There are a variety of reasons why people find themselves needing supported accommodation - relationship breakdowns, young people no longer being able to live at home and financial problems can all contribute.

“But we are also finding many of the people who qualify for supported housing have a complex range of other conditions, particularly mental health problems. Because of the pressure on services they do not qualify for more intensive care and support so we have had to work closely with our providers to ensure there needs are met.”

This has included the appointment of a dedicated homelessness mental health nurse, funded by the integrated care board. The nurse now acts as the first point of call for the providers when they have residents who have mental health problems.

Ms Roma said the support being provided is vital. “They understand how to get people referred into core mental health services and can provide support in the meantime while they wait for that support.”

Caz Dyer, a Service Manager at the Riverside Group, one of Medway’s supported housing providers, agrees. She said: “I’ve been here 16 years and there is definitely increasing complexity, both in terms of mental health and physical health. We also have access to a complex care homelessness nurse who can address physical health needs.

“You can find people who are homeless can be very distrustful of the NHS – they may have had a bad experience previously and feel judged. Key is when they are willing to accept help you need to start it straight away and make the most of the moment.

“That is where our dedicated nurses comes in. They can provide direct support and help them get started, while we wait for access to the core NHS. The problem is the health service is rushed of its feet so this enables us to respond immediately.”

Alongside the nurse, Medway’s housing providers have also developed a range of different support themselves to help their clients.

Ms Dyer runs two supported housing accommodations – 30-unit Regent House and Towers Point, a step-down service. Once referrals are made into the service, assessments are carried out and when the individual arrives they are assigned a named support worker who develops a tailored plan of support.

Ms Dyer said: “The support worker can liaise and refer in to any specialist services that may be needed such as domestic abuse, substance misuse and benefits and finances. We also run things like art and cooking classes. The idea is to gradually build up their confidence and independent living skills.

“Generally we will provide up to 18 months of support, but then clients can move out to Towers Point. There is support provided, but generally clients are expected to arrange their own bills and start taking those next steps. For example, we have helped some do their driving tests and find voluntary and paid work.”

Mary (not her real name) is one of many people who have been helped by Riverside. She arrived aged 19 after experiencing sexual abuse. She was suffering from PTSD, anxiety and insomnia and was also self-harming. She received support for her mental health problems and has gradually managed to find her feet. Now aged 22, she is living in Towers Point and is working as a carer with a new partner and paying her own rent.

Another of the key providers is SIG-Pathways. It provides 52 general needs units for Medway across nine buildings – with 15 of them are reserved for ex-offenders.

Alongside its supported housing offer, SIG-Pathways also provides support to people in the community. To help with this it has a team of peer mentors supported by a coordinator and outreach worker to provide one-to-one help for people with substance misuse and addiction issues.

They are all people who experienced similar problems themselves. SIG-Pathways Medway Head of Support Michael Bourne said: “That’s crucial. They understand and are able to relate to what people are going through. They work one-on-one with the clients as well as running group activities such as swimming, tenpin bowling and art groups.”

The scheme was launched in 2021 with funding from the Rough Sleeper and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Fund. The number of peer mentors varies but there are normally between five and eight. As well as providing valuable support, it enables the mentors themselves to gain skills.

“It can act as a stepping-stone to other work. We have seen a number of our mentors move on into other work with a few going on to work with local drug and alcohol services,” said Mr Bourne.

Alongside this, SIG-Pathways has developed a partnership with a local counselling training service. For the past six years, the service has been providing two trainees to work with Pathways to Independence clients while they complete their training.

“It has worked really well,” added Mr Bourne. “It helps the trainee counsellors get experience and provides additional support to our clients for mental health problems. It can be very hard for people with addiction issues to get mental health support – there are very long waits and there can be restrictions on access for those who are still struggling with substance misuse.”

Ms Roma said she is “delighted” with the support being given. “Our providers really go that extra mile to help clients no matter how complex their histories and conditions are.”

The benefits can also be seen through the impact Medway’s commissioned services are having on people’s lives. During the first three quarters of 2023-24, they have seen 62 people move into permanent accommodation, 84 starting employment or volunteering and 67 into education or training.

Email: [email protected]