Supporting People Plan - Supporting People with Mental Health Problems

• There are an estimated 5060 people with mental health problems requiring support services in North Lanarkshire. Of these 875 are estimated to have high housing support needs. There are substantial levels of under provision.
• The Social Work Department currently provides information, advice, care or support to 750 people.
• Airdrie, Bellshill, Motherwell and Cumbernauld/Kilsyth have no provision of services linked to accommodation.

Table 6: Estimated Nos. of People with Housing Support Needs

Source: NLC/2001 Census/ East Lothian Council/Pathways Research, 2001

A survey of 135 individuals in North Lanarkshire showed that among people with mental health problems receiving existing services the main forms of housing support currently being unmet included:

• Maintaining safety and security of the dwelling (11%) such as ensuring security of home, arranging adaptations to cope with disability.
• Cleaning of rooms and exterior windows (9%)

An average of 1.5 hours of unmet housing support was assessed as requiring to be provided each week for each individual.

• There are 21 housing support places linked to accommodation, 13 in Coatbridge and 8 in Wishaw. All are provided by the voluntary sector.
• The local authority provides 50 floating support places across North Lanarkshire.
• The majority of floating support services is provided by the voluntary sector with 4 providers providing a total of 181 places.
• There is no private sector provision.

Table 7: Nos. of Housing Support Places

Source: NLC

• The survey also showed that among people with mental health problems receiving existing services the main forms of housing support currently being provided was:
• General counselling and support (100%).
• Assistance with compliance with tenancy agreement (85%) especially life skills including food preparation/storage and assistance with budgeting or money management, dealing with social work staff or relatives and organising access to professional help.
• Maintaining safety and security of the dwelling (70%) such as ensuring security of home, arranging for trade persons and arranging adaptations to cope with disability.

An average of 30 hours of housing support was being provided each week to each individual.

• Need to expand floating support service provision.
• A broad range of floating support services providing greater choice.
• A better range of services for those requiring intensive support.

• Better identify the needs of people with mental health problems requiring housing support.
• Introduce housing support services for owner occupiers with identified needs.
• Extend the number and range of services providing support at home.
• Undertake comprehensive review of all services to better target service profile towards needs.

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