New mental health service opens its doors

Company news

May 28, 2012

A brand new project to provide rehabilitation and support for people living with mental health needs has just been launched in Hull.

Care UK has formed a new partnership with Hull City Council, Hull Teaching PCT and Inclusion Housing to create a rehabilitation and recovery process designed for people with mental health needs that incorporates three different levels of accommodation.

The site, known as Riverbank, will provide a home for up to 36 people. The cutting edge design means that this site will incorporate the very latest thinking in supporting and treating people with mental health needs so that, where possible, they are able to work towards living independently, rather than in an institutional setting.

In the past, people with mental health needs have tended to be treated in a range of separate and often unrelated facilities.  In the past it wasn’t unusual for someone to be discharged from hospital either into a residential home where they could stay for years, or into the community with only limited support to prevent a relapse. 

The new Riverbank facility will provide three different levels of support and rehabilitation varying from intensive high level support for people who have been discharged recently from a hospital, medium support provided for people within their own studio apartment through to supported living in independent flats for those who are almost at a stage where their recovery has progressed to the point that they are ready to live in the local community.

Martin Boggan from Care UK said: “The residents will be supported by a team of professionally trained nursing, social work and occupational therapy staff and a team of skilled recovery workers who will be on site at all times.”

He continued: “The fact that all three stages are incorporated on one campus is very unusual and takes on board the latest thinking in supporting people with mental health needs to achieve supported community living at the earliest opportunity.”

Councillor Steven Brady, Leader of Hull City Council, said: "As a Council we are very sensitive to meeting the needs of our residents and communities. Riverbank provides a valuable level of support which encourages independence and personal choice in line with the Governments agenda around Think Local. Act Personal."
 
The Riverbank facility also has a satellite service a couple of miles away in Sutton-on-Hull where Kingfisher Rise provides five flats for people who are making the transition from rehabilitation placements to full independent living.

Hull is the first of at least four similar schemes that Care UK expects to unveil over the next three years. Intensive rehabilitation of people with complex mental health needs not only improves their quality of life but can be a more cost effective way of delivering the support they require.

26 new permanent jobs have already been created at Riverbank with another 20 appointments expected over the next few weeks as all 36 residents move in.

The official opening of Riverbank was performed by local football legend Ian Ashbee who supported fellow player Dean Windass whilst he went through rehabilitation.