Mental Health Awareness Week: supporting tenants in Nottingham

Supporting tenants with transitions

“We support with transitions which might be for individuals sectioned due to poor mental health or they might also have substance issues. It could also be for individuals leaving children's care who are moving to Adults social care, and they need us to teach them life skills. We will help them to develop confidence whilst learning life skills.

“We are supporting individuals and this means our support is not a one size fits all. We advocate and implement person centred care for the individuals that we support. We have to wear many different hats.

Community and learning disability groups

“We work with several learning disability groups as well as mental health groups and professionals. We also work in partnership with various local community groups. We work as part of a bigger mobilisation group.

Specialist training

“Support staff undergo additional training to support tenants living at Annear Place. We have mental health and support training which helps staff to stop tenants from reaching crisis point, so being proactive rather than reactive. We also undergo Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) training. We also, because of the people we support, connect with suicide organisations and receive support, training, and advice from them. We invest heavily in training our staff so they have the specialist knowledge and skills to provide person centred support.

“We will review the needs of any potential new tenants and assess what their needs are, what they feel their needs are, and we would ensure that training was delivered for any identified needs before that person moved in. We will look at behaviours on a daily basis, and if someone’s needs change and we need to provide further training to meet their needs then it will be arranged.

“If there is specific training that would be relevant to an individual, maybe just one individual within the service, and we no longer need that training because the individual needing that support has moved out then we will remove it; ensuring all training is relevant to the people that we support.

Supporting tenants to rebuild their lives

“We previously supported one gentleman who was hospitalised because of his mental health. He gradually built up his confidence whilst being supported by FitzRoy staff and resumed studying for a degree in engineering, and went on to finish his degree and graduate with honours.

“We supported him to be able to understand his mental health effects all times and what to look for. He did not have any continuation in his mental health. He moved out just before Christmas last year as he secured a job in engineering and relocated for the job in his chosen field. Supporting with the transition of moving out is important. We worked closely with the local authority and his mental health team here in Nottingham, as he will still need that ad hoc support from the mental health team.

Supporting tenants to develop independence

“In the main building, there are eight en-suite bedrooms that have a communal lounge and kitchen, with four people sharing communal areas. We also have four self-contained flats. The approach we take with the accommodation is that tenants will move into the main building to manage their mental health and daily life. If a room becomes available in the self-contained flats, a tenant can move there to become more independent. This type of accommodation will replicate a private tenancy include managing household bills alongside support from FitzRoy to give them experience of managing a private tenancy. It will mean when they are ready for the next step they will have a good understanding of what they need to do and how it works.

Communication support

“We may involve a speech and language professional which may be through health provisions to support individual’s communication needs. If anyone needs more time to process information, then we will often give small amounts of information at a time. Tailored communication support will crucially help to build their skills and confidence for a more independent future."