Sussex Oakleaf floating support service is aimed at people with mental health needs living in their own accommodation or just moving who could benefit from some support to establish or maintain their accommodation.
The support is provided by home visits and can include:
- Advice and guidance with form-filling, claiming benefits and grants
- Liaison with other support, training or employment agencies
- Support with budgeting and daily living skills
- Access to other services, e.g. addiction support and talking therapy
- Access to social activities
- Links to Day Services and mainstream facilities.
- Help with moving on to living independently and finding work/training
The person will develop an action plan, through the use of the Recovery Star, with their Independent Living Worker which is reviewed on a regular basis. The plan is goal and recovery focused.
The length of support will vary from person to person but is typically between 6 months and 2 years. The support is flexible about when and how people receive the support, and it would float off when they no longer need it. The support can respond quickly to someone in crisis, thereby preventing a breakdown in their housing.
Floating Support criteria checklist
For more information please contact the Mental Health Floating Support Manager on 01444 459517.
Two thirds of all British press and TV coverage on mental health includes an association with violence. (Health Education Authority 1998) 44% of respondents to a study by the Mental Health Foundation in 2000 reported stigma and discrimination from GPs. Sandamas and Hogman, 2000, found that black people are twice as likely to be involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act than white people.
