Look Ahead launches new mental health service in Richmond

Published: 2nd March 2018
This week we were pleased to open a new mental health service in Richmond. The service provides a pathway to independent community living for individuals with mental health support needs.
Female customer in her kitchen, in a Look Ahead service

The service offers a flexible approach to fit the needs of each customer as an individual

The service supports 103 customers with high to low support needs across ten accommodation sites and a floating support service.  It will provide a pathway to independent community living and allow customers the flexibility to ‘step-up’ support if needs increase or ‘skip’ stages in the pathway (moving on from accommodation-based directly into floating support) if appropriate.

As service-users progress, the focus of support will change from stabilising mental health, engaging with treatments, supporting insight and self-management techniques, towards independent living skills and community network development.

The service will work closely with key stakeholders including social services and the CMHT to promote independent living, resilience and tenancy sustainment for our customers.

The aim of the service is to promote the recovery of individuals within in all stages of the pathway; thereby reducing hospital admission and use of emergency/crisis services.