Project Bryant – Specialised Supported Housing – Purpose Social Homes

Nominee Information

Project Bryant involved refurbishment of a relatively modern property to create Specialised Supported Housing for a resident diagnosed primarily with Autism. The resident needs were very complex and required a specialised environment that catered for both the needs of support providers and the resident. She had a history of severe self-harm, trauma, personality disorder and eating disorder. She was admitted to the hospital in 2018 under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act due to setting a fire in the community and has been an inpatient at the hospital ever since. She has been involved in over 70 ligature incidents since early 2021.

In collaboration with the Continuing Healthcare and Placements team of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System and the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the successful completion of the project demonstrated that repurposing existing buildings with careful planning and design can be an effective strategy to meet the needs of vulnerable people.

This development highlights the complex and multi-faceted nature of delivering the government’s Transforming Care Agenda, the importance of taking a holistic approach to mental health treatment and recognising the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of a person’s life. The significance of this transformation in the resident’s life cannot be fully grasped as of now, as healing and recovering from a long-term mental disorder is not a one-day process. The impact and differences go beyond just the tangible environment and include the emotional and psychological advantages. Our focus was to create the right environment by installing anti-ligature fittings throughout the property to prevent the risk of self-harm.

Despite constant arm’s length observations in the hospital, there were many incidents of self-harm during the early hours of the day making staff mitigation more difficult. Purpose Social Homes provided the “Right Environment” where the overwhelming emotions, thoughts of taking her own life can be reduced and the resident can learn healthy coping mechanisms. The anti-ligature protocol of this project has made a significant difference to the resident’s life and her family and those who support her by reducing the risk of suicide and self-harm. Additionally, this sustainable home is equipped with intelligent electronic control systems that allow residents to optimise their energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.

Evidence of Service user Involvement – We use The Safe Home Environment Assessment Tool which is designed to look at broad areas of potential risk and identify behaviors exhibited by an individual at the time of a proposed move. The assessment is designed to be used as an addition to the planning process and not instead of other valuable assessments and support planning tools. The specific remit of the assessment is to look at how specific behaviours may need to be considered when thinking about the physical environment.

This project was also shortlisted last year in the Inside Development Housing Awards for the “Best Supported Housing Award” category. We believe that the outcome of this project has made a significant positive difference in the life of individual and deserves recognition.