- The NHS Confederation estimates that the NHS funding promised by the government in this year’s Budget amounts to an increase of around 1.4 per cent, falling far short of the required increase of around 4%.
- The mental health sector faces ongoing financial pressure and as a result is looking to innovative ways of delivering cost-effective care.
- The housing sector has potential to deliver improved outcomes and financial savings through partnership working with providers of NHS services, clinical commissioning groups and local government.
- Housing providers are able to deliver mental health interventions at significantly lower costs to NHS and social care budgets.
This briefing, produced in partnership with NHS Confederation Mental Health Network members Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Look Ahead, Homegroup, One Housing, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and East London NHS Foundation Trust, contains four case studies on innovative support and care services delivered through collaborations between housing and healthcare providers.
Sean Duggan, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Network, said:
“Appropriate housing has had proven benefits for individuals; supported housing has given people living with complex mental health issues the chance to live independently in non-clinical environments while managing their own conditions.
“We know that housing solutions also benefit the health system, freeing up expensive inpatient beds, reducing re-admissions and providing much-needed preventative support before tenants reach crisis.
“Our members have been very clear on the benefits of housing as a mental health intervention and have been able to demonstrate successful outcomes through a variety of different models.
“It is very encouraging to learn of the solutions being developed through cross-sector partnerships between health and housing providers and to see local resources put to best use through successful collaborations.
“We are delighted to showcase some of this excellent work in our briefing.”
Chris Hampson, Chief Executive of housing provider Look Ahead and Mental Health Network Board member commented:
“We have long recognised the potential of supported housing to deliver improved outcomes for people living with mental illness.
“Housing providers are in an excellent position to have great impact in this area through partnerships with health services and local government.
“Recent years have seen an encouraging increase in engagement between housing and healthcare providers. This briefing gives some examples of the excellent outcomes made possible through cross-sector collaboration.”