We're delighted to announce that our support service has been reassessed as 'outstanding' by Erosh, the national network for older people's housing and support services.
Our support service is a team of 19 specialist support and welfare staff, who are trained to support people of all ages who are struggling to manage at home. Cases include mental health support, working with care leavers, supporting victims of domestic violence, supporting hoarders, and visiting older people. The team offers support with budgeting and managing finances, helping to claim benefits, accessing specialist support services, and help managing the condition of residents’ homes.
“Thanks to your kindness, my fridge and cupboards have food in them, and I’ve been able to buy treats and food for my dog. I can’t tell you how grateful me and my dog are, you’ve been a huge help.”
Demand for the support service has grown in the last year, as more and more people struggle with loss of income and difficulties accessing the support networks they relied on before the pandemic. Since April 2020, the team has reclaimed over £430,000 in benefits and financial support for residents, helping to ease the pressure on already stretched budgets.
Erosh recognised the team’s hard work and dedication, and commended their work during the pandemic. The team have continued to support residents through doorstep visits and phone calls. For those in emergency or high-risk situations, they have kept up face-to-face appointments in COVID-safe ways and wearing PPE.
James Clarke, Housing Team Manager at NPH said:
“This accreditation is really important for the 600 residents we are currently supporting. It shows our commitment to providing the right level of support so that residents are able to manage their tenancies and stay in their homes, while improving their wellbeing and gaining independence. I’m so proud that this hard work has been recognised by Erosh once again.”
The team recently supported Sarah* (name changed to protect anonymity), who was referred to the service by her housing officer who had concerns about her wellbeing.
Her home was in poor condition, with a build-up of clutter in her home and garden. Sarah had an 8-year-old child, and Children’s Social Services were involved due to concerns about neglect.
Sarah struggled with anxiety, depression and low confidence, which made managing her home and finances difficult. She had worked with other support services in the past, but had a lack of trust and struggled to work with them.
Sarah told her support worker she felt overwhelmed by the expectations set out by Children’s Social Services, but she really wanted to improve the condition of her home for her child. With her support worker, she was able to set out realistic and manageable goals to improve her home, finances, mental health and confidence.
Sarah was supported to sort through the clutter, which was collected by NPH’s estates team. Her support worker applied for help with getting a new cooker and carpets for the home, making it a much more positive environment for Sarah and her child. Sarah was also supported to review her outgoings, apply for discounts on her utility bills, and make a budget, giving her control over her financial situation.
This inspired Sarah to build up her confidence and independence. So, she attended wellbeing services for her mental health, and training courses to build up her skills. Sarah said her confidence and self-esteem have improved hugely, and she feels able to live independently and make calls to services without support.
With the help of the support team, Sarah’s situation has improved so much that Children’s Social Services are satisfied that her child is being cared for and are no longer involved.
If you are a resident in need of support, or you have concerns about a friend or neighbour, head to our supporting you page to find out how to get in touch with our outstanding support team.