Supporting People with Mental Health Issues
Introduction
At PAS Ltd in Poole we offer accommodation and specified support to single people with mental health issues. To ensure we give the best support possible we work closely with Social Services, the Local Health Authority, St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital, local Benefits Agencies and a variety of other agencies.
Aim of the scheme
The aim of the scheme is to offer a relaxed, safe and friendly environment within the three properties where individuals have the opportunity to self develop to their maximum potential.
Objective of the scheme
The objective of the scheme is to accommodate and support people with mental health issues, encouraging clients to progressively live as independently as possible with a view to moving to less supported accommodation when they leave the PAS Ltd project.
Type of accommodation
We have three houses, none of which have more than five people living in them at any given time. There is a visiting support service to the houses everyday between the hours of 9am and 10pm. There is also twenty four hour emergency cover provided seven days a week when staff are not on site.
Duration of stay
The duration of stay at Poole schemes is anticipated to be no longer than two years.
Level of Support
Staff are available on site in the houses everyday between the hours of 9am and10pm.
Outside the staffed support hours we offer an emergency call out support service.
Services
- Individual key working
- Structured activities
- Assessment and support planning
- Re-settlement guidance, advocacy
- Develop domestic/ life skills
- Emotional support
- Advice
- Advocacy
- Fiscal awareness and management
- Facilitate access to community services
- Establish community links
- Assistance in developing social contacts and activities
- Access to employment, education resources and reduce barriers to these
- Knowledge of good physical and mental health relapse prevention awareness
- Assisstance in finding alternative accommodation
- Access to out of hours emergency support
- Facilitate access to culture relevant resources.
Scheme criteria
Prospective residents who would like to apply to the scheme will need to meet the following criteria:
- Be aged between 18-64 years
- Require single person accommodation
- Require supported accommodation
- Have a previous local address or local connection (may be due to service provision, support, family or employment)
- Agree to work with support provision to develop their individual support/move on plan (include timescale – check with contract)
- Have a mental health support need
- Be able to self cater with minimum support
- Adhere to medications directed by GP/Consultant
- Have no history of arson
- Not be a schedule one offender
- Not be a sex offender
House rules
We keep house rules to a minimum but for the consideration of all the following rules apply:
- No smoking is allowed in the communal areas
- Alcohol & illegal drugs must not be brought onto the premises
- In those circumstances where residents return to the house under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, they will be expected to go to their room to ensure that there is no impact on any other service users in the house.
- To ensure the safety and comfort of all residents a maximum of two visitors are permitted at any one time between the hours of 9am and 10pm. They must remain in communal areas and not go to residents rooms. No visitors are allowed between 10pm and 9am.
- Care and consideration for other residents and neighbours must be shown at all times
- Noise must be kept to a minimum at all times, but particularly after 10pm
- A kitchen is provided and food must not be prepared or stored in residents rooms
- Pets are not allowed in the house or grounds
- If keys are lost, a replacement charge of £5 will be payable
Supporting Ex-Offenders
Introduction
PAS Ltd deliver housing related support services in Poole, which are provided to assist ex-offenders and those at risk of re-offending to develop or maintain their independence after serving time in prison or serving their sentence within the community thus preventing the loss of their home or tenancy and/or the otherwise unnecessary use of more institutional forms of care.
Bail hostel move-on
Four residents in Poole are supported in as homely an environment as possible with shared cooking facilities and visiting support. Staffed house meetings take place on a regular basis. There are no staff present at night but an emergency support service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Alcohol and illegal substances are not to be taken into the premises. Visitors are allowed at the property but they must leave by 10pm and no overnight guests are permitted.
The anticipated maximum duration of stay at the scheme is eighteen months and assistance is given to those seeking move-on accommodation.
Level of support
On arrival a needs led assessment allows client led support planning. Subsequently, individual key working takes place on a weekly basis and staff work closely with other agencies. House meetings take place regularly and residents are expected to attend.
Objectives of the schemes
The objective of the schemes is to work together with individual clients to create a strategy and environment which facilitates their development to independent living and sustaining a tenancy.
Services
- Individual key working
- Structured activities
- Assessment and support planning
- Re-settlement guidance, advocacy
- Develop domestic/ life skills
- Emotional support
- Advice
- Advocacy
- Fiscal awareness and management
- Facilitate access to community services
- Establish community links
- Assistance in developing social contacts and activities
- Access to employment, education resources and reduce barriers to these
- Knowledge of good physical and mental health relapse prevention awareness
- Assisstance in finding alternative accommodation
- Access to out of hours emergency support
- Facilitate access to culture relevant resources.
Schemes Criteria
All prospective residents must:
- Be aged between 18-64
- Be in need of single person accommodation
- Be in need of supported accommodation
- Have recently left prison and be in need of accommodation and support, or a person serving their sentence within the community.
- Have a previous local address or local connection (may be due to service provision, support, family or employment
- Agree to work with support provision to develop their individual support/move-on plan
- Be willing to sign up to a licence agreement
- Have no history of arson
- Not be a schedule one offender
House rules in shared accommodation
We try to keep house rules to a minimum. However, for the safety and comfort of all the following house rules apply in all shared accommodation:
- No illegal drugs or alcohol are allowed on the premises
- Care and consideration for other residents and neighbours must be shown at all times
- In those circumstances where residents return to the house under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, they will be expected to go to their room to ensure that there is no impact on any other service users in the house.
- To ensure the safety and comfort of all residents a maximum of two visitors are permitted at any one time between the hours of 9am and 10pm. They must remain in communal areas and not go to residents rooms. No visitors are allowed between 10pm and 9am.
- Noise must be kept to a minimum at all times, but especially after 10pm
- As part of shared living residents are allocated household chores on a weekly rota basis. These must be completed
- Smoking is not permitted in communal areas
- A kitchen is provided and food must not be prepared or stored in residents rooms
- If keys are lost a replacement charge of £5 will be payable
- Pets are not allowed in the house or grounds