Developing high relational support services for individuals with long term mental health needs: scheme description and service evaluation
| Date | 24 February 2012 |
| Pages | 31-40 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301211205883 |
| Published date | 24 February 2012 |
| Author | Jason Davies,Mark Hopkins,Mark Campisi,Richard G. Maggs |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Developing high relational support services
for individuals with long term mental health
needs: scheme description and service
evaluation
Jason Davies, Mark Hopkins, Mark Campisi and Richard G. Maggs
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a not-for-profit (third sector) social care facility
designed to provide tenancy and high-relational support and report an initial multi-method evaluation of
service inputs (what staff provide/facilitate); tenant outcomes; and views of the service.
Design/methodology/approach – Data were gathered using routine information collected on a daily
basis over the course of a year, semi-structured interviews and pre-post testing.
Findings – Support needs vary over time and across tenants, with almost all support provided during
waking hours. With appropriate support the health and wellbeing, personal and community safety,
independence and social integration of all the tenants was maintained or enhanced using this social
care model. The service was well received and would benefit from being replicated.
Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on data from a small number of individuals
and relates to a single setting.
Originality/value – High-relational support delivered by not-for-profit social care providers can be
effective, sustainable and cost efficient for those with complex, enduring and severe mental health
problems. This paper shows that such services can significantly improve the social inclusion
experienced by individuals within them.
Keywords Community care, Mental health, Third sector, Evaluation, Social care,
Non-profit organizations
Paper type Research paper
Background
Community care for individuals with severe and enduring mental health problems is an
important aspect of mental health care (Macpherson et al., 2004; Fakhoury et al., 2005;
Middelboe et al., 1998). This has followed a process of deinstitutionalisation (Fakhoury and
Priebe, 2002) and many forms of supported accommodation now exist in addition to long-
stay wards including staffed hostels and group homes (Macpherson et al., 2004) and
independent accommodation with or without outreach support (Chilvers et al., 2006).
Descriptions of such services and the clinical characteristics of those residing in them have
been published (Lelliott et al., 1996), however, the lack of availability of accommodation of
the varying types has been noted (Fakhoury et al., 2002).
Research has indicated that residential facilities for those with mental health problems
typically share common goals of facilitating independence, supervising medication,
encouraging community involvement and improving social functioning and self-care skills
(Lewis and Trieman, 1995). More specifically, research within ‘‘24-hour nursed care’’ has
suggested that individuals might experience an increase in social functioning, larger social
networks and fewer negative symptoms, whilst those in ‘‘core and cluster units’ ’ show
improvements in social functioning and quality of life (Macpherson et al., 2004). Additionally,
DOI 10.1108/20428301211205883 VOL. 16 NO. 1 2012, pp. 31-40, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAGE 31
Jason Davies is Lead
Psychologist for
Rehabilitation/Recovery
and Low Secure Services,
Intensive Support and
Intervention Service,
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg
University Health Board,
Swansea, UK and Honorary
Senior Clinical Lecturer at
the School of Medicine,
University of Swansea,
Swansea, UK.
Mark Hopkins is a
Supported Housing
Services Manager at Family
Housing Association
(Wales) Ltd, Swansea, UK.
Mark Campisi is Mental
Health Accommodation
Development and
Placement Manager for
Swansea Social Services
Department, Swansea, UK
and the Mental Health
Directorate of Abertawe Bro
Morgannwg University
Health Board, Cefn Coed
Hospital, Swansea, UK.
Richard G. Maggs is a
Consultant Psychiatrist at
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg
University Health Board,
Cefn Coed Hospital,
Swansea, UK and Honorary
Senior Clinical Lecturer at
the School of Medicine,
University of Swansea,
Swansea, UK.
The authors would like to thank
the staff and residents of the
pilot service; Claire Griffiths,
Connective Training and
Consultancy Services; and
members of the ABMU Health
Board Rehabilitation and
Recovery service.
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