‘Referrers’ are not just fellow healthcare professionals. Adult health and social care professionals looking to submit a supported living referral to Northern Healthcare know, support and care for the individual who they are recommending our service to. They have built a relationship with the individual, sometimes over several years and at this stage they are a key person in helping us determine if we are the best next step.
Our supported living services provide accommodation and 24/7 support for people living with a mental health diagnosis, learning disability or autism. Our aim is to work collaboratively to ensure we provide support packages which incorporate the individual’s needs, whilst our focus is on enabling people to achieve their goals and to become more independent.
Northern Healthcare accepts referrals from NHS mental health case managers and provider trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), community mental health teams, secure hospitals, mental health acute and psychiatric intensive care units, rehabilitation and recovery inpatient services, prisons and courts and social services. To progress a referral we will need:
Male & female individuals, aged 18+ who are willing to engage in recovery & social inclusion.
Can be on section 17 leave or if on forensic MHA section, on extended leave if approved by MOJ.
Can be on a community treatment order or DoLS.
On admission, individuals must be stable on their current medication & medically fit.
We can support people with a diagnosed mental illness, learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder.
Individuals may have a primary mental health diagnosis e.g. schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder or bipolar, they may also have secondary needs relating to a learning disability, autism and personality disorder.
Northern Healthcare is led by clinical professionals who understand the challenge of finding suitable support services and navigating a sometimes complex funding process. We are on hand to help manage the transition into community-based services.
We utilise a range of occupational therapy based assessment tools to provide a baseline of an individual’s level of functioning, and as outcome measures. Some of the assessment tools are:
• Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA)
• Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST)
• The Functional Living Scale
• Occupational Circumstances Assessment and Interview Rating Scale (OCAIRS)
• Volitional Questionnaire (VQ)
• Assessment of Community and Interaction Skills (ACIS)
• Occupational Performance History Interview (OPHI)
• Cognitive assessments such as ‘CAM’
• Basic skills education assessments in numeracy and literacy
Northern Healthcare is registered with the Care Quality Commission for treatment of disease, disorder or injury & personal care.
We are committed to providing the highest quality services to the people we support – along with their families and external health and social care professionals.
Once a referral has been confirmed, confirmation of funding will then be required from the appropriate authority.
Placements are usually funded through the CCG or local authority, but can also be funded privately, through personal budgets or via independent case managers. We work closely with funding teams and can support with ensuring the correct information is provided in advance of funding panels.
High quality, evidence-based supported living has proven to be cost effective. Community based services reduce the number of individuals in acute mental health hospital beds, and ease the reliance on statutory services.
Northern Healthcare is currently an accredited member of the ‘frameworks’ covering Cheshire East, Liverpool, Sandwell, Staffordshire, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Derby, Croydon, Hull, Cheshire West and Chester, Nottingham CSE, Gloucestershire, Walsall, Worcestershire, Rochdale, Cumbria, Kirklees, Coventry/Warwickshire, Shropshire, Nottinghamshire, Stockport and Bolton.
There are several ways to contact our referrals team:
Fill in the contact form on our website, all referral enquires go directly to our referrals team.
Call 0161 974 7210 our referrals team are option 1.
You can also email [email protected]
We display service availability on our website, though we do recommend that it is best to contact us directly as we may be able to provide advice on new service openings, nearby services or when a placement is likely to become available.
