Supporting Discharge from Mental Health Hospitals: The Benefits of Supported Living for Social Workers and Commissioners

When a person is ready to leave a mental health hospital, the goal is to ensure a safe, sustainable, and positive transition back into the community. Supported living services offer an effective, person-centered solution that not only promotes independence but also aligns with modern social care frameworks. For social workers, NHS professionals, and local authority commissioners, understanding the benefits of supported living can facilitate better planning, improved outcomes, and more efficient use of resources.

Why Choose Supported Living for Transitioning Service Users?

Supported living is a flexible, community-based approach that provides tailored support for individuals moving out of hospital settings. It creates a foundation for recovery, social inclusion, and long-term wellbeing. Here’s why supported living is increasingly the preferred choice for professionals working with service users due for discharge:

1. Streamlined, Outcomes-Focused Care

Supporting a transition to supported living aligns perfectly with contemporary social care frameworks emphasizing independence, community integration, and personal outcomes. It offers a clear pathway that reduces reliance on more restrictive or inpatient care, promoting sustainable, effective support solutions. This approach prioritizes the individual’s goals, preferences, and recovery journey, ensuring that support plans are tailored to promote resilience and autonomy.

2. Cost-Effective and Resource-Optimised

Supported living services often provide a more cost-effective alternative to prolonged hospital stays or institutional care. By investing in community-based, personalized support, local authorities and NHS trusts can achieve better outcomes while making optimal use of available resources. This approach reduces the financial and operational burden on acute care services and aligns with strategies to reduce inpatient admissions.

3. Improved Outcomes and Reduced Re-hospitalisations

Supported living environments foster stability, independence, and overall wellbeingkey factors that help prevent readmissions. By providing ongoing, tailored support that promotes recovery and social inclusion, supported living can significantly decrease the likelihood of relapse or crisis, leading to improved service user satisfaction and better health outcomes.

4. Enhanced Community Inclusion and Social Value

Supporting individuals in the community helps reduce social isolation and promotes social inclusion core goals for NHS and local authority care strategies. Supported living encourages individuals to participate in local activities, employment, and social networks, benefiting both the service user and the wider community.

5. Flexibility and Person-Centered Choice

Supported living services are highly adaptable, allowing for support packages that evolve with the individual’s needs, preferences, and long-term goals. This flexibility supports commissioners’ commitments to delivering truly person-centered care, respecting service user choice, and promoting autonomy.

How to Make a Referral or Arrange a Visit

If you believe supported living could be the right next step for your client or service user, we are here to support you through every stage of the process. We have supported living services in Birmingham, Sandwell, West Midlands, West Sussex and Leicestershire. Our experienced team works closely with social workers, NHS teams, and commissioners to ensure seamless transitions and high-quality care.

• Sandwell, Birmingham:
  Call us at 0333 772 9434 or email manager@prosperityhousinggroup.co.uk to arrange a visit or discuss a referral.
• Leicestershire:
  Contact Sharfa  at 0333 360 6408 or email serenityhouse@prosperityhousinggroup.co.uk  for more information.
• West Sussex:
  Reach out to Joanne at 0333 772 3438 or email SylvestersHouse@prosperityhousinggroup.co.uk 

To learn more about our supported living services.
Our dedicated, compassionate team is committed to working with you to deliver person-centered, high-quality support that meets your strategic priorities and improves lives.