Northern Healthcare is a 24/7 enhanced supported living service providing support to individuals with a mental health diagnosis, learning disability, and/or autism.
Across July and August 2022, Northern Healthcare’s Yorkshire-based services came together to hold a series of resident networking events.
Merchants House, Bradford, Radcliffe Lodge, Leeds, Amy Johnson House, Hull, and Hyde Park House, Wakefield each hosted an event welcoming residents and team members from across Yorkshire to attend.
Sophie Minto, Occupational Therapist at Northern Healthcare was the leading force behind the events, planning the networking days after residents expressed interest in visiting other services and meeting other residents: “Our clinical hub team members often visit different services to share best practice and expertise. The idea of the networking days came following a discussion between one of our Radcliffe Lodge residents and Joanne Bartlett, Radcliffe Lodge Service Manager.
We have observed many benefits of the residents participating; they have been able to explore new areas, socialise with others, and build new connections. Residents have used public transport to travel to the sites, this has given them the opportunity to plan an unfamiliar journey and build skills and confidence in accessing the community, a skill many of us take for granted but a huge step in recovery for some of our residents.
This has also been the first time in almost 3 years that we have been able to implement something like this due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so there was a little added apprehension, however the days proved to be successful and residents who attended the initial networking day at Merchants House then went on to participate in subsequent days.
It has been so lovely to see a sense of pride in our residents and team members from hosting and showcasing their homes.”
The first resident networking event took place on 7th July 2022, at Merchants House. The day was packed with activities beginning with a tour of the service, followed by football and badminton, and ending with a BBQ.
The first event was described by the team as “well attended” and “a great success”. Merchants House Business Administrator, Lisa Garling said of the event: “It was so nice to see residents make the effort to get to know each other. It can be a real challenge for some residents to speak to new people, so this was a massive step for them.”
Subsequent events in July and August saw team members and residents explore Pudsey Park and Hull Marina, and enjoy a BBQ, a coffee morning, and a group meal at Wetherspoons.
One resident from Hyde Park House attended all of the networking events, commenting: “I enjoyed the networking days as they enabled me to meet new people and explore new areas that I’d never been to before. All of the staff members at each service were welcoming and friendly.
“My favourite event was the day at Amy Johnson House as I learnt a lot about the area’s history, including about the overflow of the bridge and the history around this.”
The final resident networking event was hosted by Hyde Park House, Wakefield, on 17th August 2022. Residents joined from across services for an afternoon tea party complete with karaoke, games, and a quiz.
Hayley Matthews, Hyde Park House Service Manager comments, “The networking days really have shown how Northern Healthcare has a community feel. Throughout each of the networking days all who attended were made to feel welcomed and a good time was had. Thank you to everyone who got involved, Hyde Park can’t wait for the next time the services get together!”
