The aim of the project is to provide a flexible Health and Housing service to clients in Blandford and North Dorset who have mental health problems and require intensive support in their own homes in order to function effectively in the community. It provides clients with a psychosocial package of care in secure and supported housing. This includes providing assistance in daily living skills, help and advice with housing and other related benefits and budgeting. It also aims to encourage and empower clients to participate fully in community services and to make use of facilities within the community and to help them realise their full potential.

This service is provided by Signpost Care Partnerships working closely with Dorset Community NHS Trust, North Dorset District Council and Dorset Social Services.

Two Supported Housing Officers are based within the community mental health teams in Shaftesbury and Blandford respectively and work closely with the Assertive Outreach Community Psychiatric Nurses in each team. Blandford currently has seven Assertive Outreach flats and North Dorset has six. In order for clients to be nominated to these properties they need to be assessed through the referral criteria, which is that they must have a diagnosis of a severe and enduring mental health problem, are difficult to engage and are non-compliant.

This project has recently won a NHS Beacon Award for its innovative and pioneering work involving a Health and Housing Partnership.

The project is also in line with the Government's policy of Care in the Community and this is reflected in our Mission Statement below.

Full Mission Statement

"To provide an accessible and proactive health and housing service to people who have experienced or are experiencing severe mental illness with complex multiple needs and who may be difficult to engage, by providing intensive support, structured programmes and a multi-agency approach. We aim to enable individuals to identify optimistic short/long term goals, to empower themselves and realise their full potential."