Step Down Care at The Bank Best Housing Story - Highlighting examples of good practice where people have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in their community, this award celebrates success stories in the housing sector over the past year.
In March 2020, the UK Government announced a national lockdown in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. The establishment of a Nightingale facility at Belfast City Hospital meant Belfast Trust needed to act swiftly to release vital bed capacity to allow the rapid expansion of its intensive care provision. Existing patients too would need protected from this rapidly spreading virus. Health Professionals desperately searched for bed-space solutions to a new and devastating problem; Covid-19.
One ward within the hospital accommodated acute mental health inpatients. Their needs were deemed capable of being met in a Supported Housing environment however there was no such accommodation available. Against the backdrop of a deepening crisis, the Trust urgently searched for suitable accommodation through its network of contacts.
An enquiry to Choice Housing produced a promising lead. One of its’ subsidiary Companies, Maple and May, was completing a development of nine new-build apartments on East Belfast’s Woodstock Road – “The Bank”. An inspection was hastily arranged and the Trust relieved to find that the bright, spacious new-build apartments would be eminently suitable for its patients needs.
Ordinarily, it would take months to agree Terms, prepare a business case, complete surveys and obtain approvals. As the virus continued to spread, Mary O’ Brien (Belfast Trust) and Siobhan McCrystal (Choice / Maple and May) set about making the project happen in impossibly tight timeframes. Terms were quickly agreed and approvals urgently obtained. Even the solicitors responded, taking days to complete Lease negotiations which often take months!
In a world that was effectively locked down, the logistics were equally difficult. Long standing supplier relationships enabled urgent furniture deliveries from across the UK and Ireland against a wider backdrop of business closures and issues with supply chains. Contracts with utility providers were set up, boilers commissioned, bins delivered and final certificates obtained. In just a few short weeks, The Bank was being deep cleaned ready for its new Tenants.
Among the Tenants, there was perhaps a little trepidation in leaving the familiarity of the hospital ward particularly in these circumstances. Any concerns however were immediately dispelled on arrival at The Bank. Anyone would be happy to live there. The new-build apartments are bright and spacious, situated amongst shops and cafes with support available from neighbours and staff when required.
The story however, does not end there. Initially conceived as a short term “Covid” arrangement, such has been the success of the project, the Trust has now decided to make it a longer term part of its step down care provision.
Mary O’ Brien at Belfast Trust comments:
“At the outset of this work in March 2020, 25% of beds in Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre were filled with patients whose discharge was delayed. This has now reduced to less than 1% of the bed usage. The Woodstock Bank facility has been a crucial part of this journey providing a step-down option for patients from Acute Care, freeing up inpatient beds, providing recovery options for the patient’s transition from hospital to community, and therefore enhancing their individual recovery journey. The view of current occupants is that having high standard accommodation in a community based setting has been transformative in their recovery”.
The Bank provides Tenants with privacy, dignity and autonomy in a modern, safe and supporting environment. But the accommodation itself is only part of it. The benefits of the community setting, in particular appear foremost in promoting recovery for service users to live as full a life as possible. The real credit therefore goes to the local people, shops and cafes who have welcomed new Tenants into their community.
Working together with Belfast Trust, hospital beds were freed up and the risk of Covid infection reduced for vulnerable inpatients. What was achieved in terms of timeframes and logistics in extraordinary circumstances is testament to the “extra over” dedication that we so frequently see within the Housing Sector and throughout Care Partnerships.
Already good relationships across Health and Housing have been strengthened by mutual dedication towards a common goal and will be sustained by the apparent success of the project in terms of patient outcomes.
As a housing association, our primary focus is to provide accommodation for the most vulnerable in our society. A real difference has been made to the lives of people with severe and enduring mental Health difficulties. Borne initially from an emergency appeal, The Bank has become an innovative new pathway for community placements in a Supported Housing environment.
We are reminded of the clear links between Mental Health outcomes and the quality of housing provision. We are reminded too, of the importance of community and a sense of belonging in driving the recoveries of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
Jon Anderson, our Group Director or Development had this to say,
"We were delighted to receive the Best Housing Story award. “The Bank” is something that only really happened due to Covid but it’s very rewarding to hear that the Tenants have responded so well to community based care and it will become part of the Trusts long term step down care provision. Whilst it has been great for ourselves and our partners, Belfast Trust to receive some recognition, the real credit goes to the local people (shops, cafes and restaurants) who welcomed the new Tenants into their community."
