Inspirations Therapeutic Community (TC)
We have a large five bedroom property in Moulton. The therapeutic community model with staff trained in DBT skills and with counselling support provides an evidenced based environment to support that is aimed at helping the discharge of people with EUPD from hospital, people for whom other placements have failed or who have been stuck in hospital for a prolonged period. The support is different to other supported living projects as we aim to support people to develop a sense of belonging to the group and responsibility for oneself and each other. People are supported to support each other as well as the 24 hour onsite staff support. They are also have shared responsibilities for practical matters such as jobs around the house, cooking and cleaning. Support staff are DBT trained to help the cohort implement skills in the community that they have been exposed to in hospital settings. A counsellor also facilitates group sessions to enable people to support and challenge each other and reinforce the therapeutic group dynamic. This is a disorder usually caused by abuse/complex trauma and/or poor developmental environments and is also a diagnosis which causes people to be blamed and discriminated against because of a general misunderstanding of the reasons for certain behaviours. This project is the start of several proposed similar projects in Lancashire and Northampton, integral to which is the creation of peer support networks, groups and activities which are already in place in Blackpool through Inspirations existing work. The creation of these networks increases the potential benefit beyond that of the EUPD cliental to help support all those in the community who identify as experiencing some mental health difficulties.
Goals:
Facilitate discharges of those stranded in hospital with EUPD/complex trauma. This is ethically as well as clinically the best approach for those with EUPD as all guidance and research informs us that hospital admission beyond short acute need just reinforces the disorder. However, the correct resources are not currently available to support this.
Support a sustained community recovery with reduced hospital admission frequency and duration, while recognising that some people may always need short admissions. Clinical outcomes as well as qualitative perspectives will be measured.
Add to the evidence base for work in this area. This project is unique in its approach, especially the balance of therapeutic group work and independence, the peer led nature and the creation of peer support networks to help positive relationships and more social resources to help prevent relapses.
Built into the transition and ongoing support following discharge is regular review and evaluation internally and in partnership with social care and health colleagues.
Underpinning Values
Attachment:
Healthy attachment is a development requirement and a basic human right
Safety:
Everybody needs a safe and supportive environment to develop, to grow, or to change
Respect:
People need to feel respected and not defined or described by other’s perceptions
Communication:
All behaviour has meaning, and represents communication that needs to be understood
Interdepenence:
Personal well-being arises from relationships which recognise mutual need
Relationships:
Quality of relationships determines the quality of intimate, family, social and working life
Participation:
Ability to influence one’s environment and relationships is necessary for personal well-being
Process:
It is often better for individuals, groups and organisations to reflect that to act immediately
Balance:
Positive and negative experiences are necessary for us all
Responsibility:
Each individual has responsibility to others, and others to him or her
Matthew Hemming,
C.E.O of Inspirations and Lead on this project
Matthew is an experienced mental health social worker. He has worked with statutory, private and third sector mental health services and has skills in management, planning, assessment, report writing, providing supervision, training and interagency and multidisciplinary working. Matthew applies for funding and collaboratively plans and works towards the future of Inspirations with the trustees and wider membership. Matthew has also worked nationally assessing and creating discharge plans for people with many complex disorders including some specialist EUPD provision. Through work in Northampton he made connections locally, working with the Individual Funding Team and and community team on discharges for those with EUPD.
Housing Partners,
Places for People
Places for People is a leading affordable homes-led placemaker that believes places work when they work for everyone. We design homes, places and communities for the long term that are sustainable economically, socially and environmentally. We take a commercial approach to delivering social value and making a difference.
The Places for People Group’s award-winning placemaking, property investment, development and management companies own or manage more than 219,600 homes, operates over 100 leisure facilities, has assets of £4.9bn, and will deliver circa 6,000 affordable homes over the next 10 years through its partnership with Homes England.
Places for People worked with Inspirations TC on developing this project. They purchased and own the property for us to create the community and remain as landlord. We hope to maintain this professional relationship in the development of further therapeutic communities.