A radical shake-up of day services in the county offers new hope to people with mental health issues.
With life-changing potential, the new reforms will mean day centres in East Sussex focus on recovery, inclusion and a return to employment.
As Councillor Bentley, Lead Member for the county council’s Adult Social Care department explained:
“In the past, if you attended a day centre, the expectations on you were low.
You were there because you were ill.
This attitude was fine if you were in crisis, in fact the service offered great comfort and support – but it wasn’t great at aiding recovery.
“Thankfully, this new set-up turns all that on its head!
We want to look past the illness to the whole person and see the skills that you have.
The vision, if you like, is that everyone is on the road to recovery.
For some, this might mean taking little steps like learning to leave the house on their own, for others it will be the move back into employment.
Of course, the truth is it takes time to get well, and to refind your independence.
But, support will now be there – a springboard back into the world.”
Although some day services already run along these lines, others will undergo significant changes to modernise in this way.
Aware of the levels of anxiety this may cause, Mike Wood, Chief Executive of NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother, added:
“This idea of actively helping people to make the most of their lives – to grab opportunities and build a future – is something that should have happened long ago.
“Of course, some people will be anxious and concerned by these changes.
But can I reassure you that no one will be left without the support they need.
This is not about saving money, but about ensuring that the money we have is being spent in the best possible way, for the good of all.
“At present, not everyone in East Sussex can access mental health services.
Depending on where you live in the county, you may find there’s nothing available locally.
These reforms will help address that problem, making the system fairer.”
Cllr Bill Bentley, lead member for adult social care, agreed saying:
“There’s still a lot of ignorance and stigma surrounding mental health.
Why is it, you fall ill and all of a sudden you’re shunned by society, a persona non grata? That’s got to change.”
“Having a mental health problem is not the end.
With the right support people do recover – and these new day services will play a vital part in making that happen.”
The four organisations that won the new contracts to run mental health day services across the county are:
• Together (to manage Hastings and Bexhill Resource Hubs & Community Links)
• Sussex Oakleaf (North Wealden, South Wealden and Eastbourne Resource Hubs & Community Links)
• Newhaven Community Development Association (Lewes and The Havens Resource Hubs & Community Links)
• Southdown Housing Association (Vocational Services across East Sussex).
The new services will be introduced from July 1st, 2009.
In the meantime, as newly appointed service providers, staff from these four companies are going out and visiting the day centres and the people that use them, in order to learn more about local needs.
These discussions will feed into the future development of the services.
Providing support throughout the transition will be two newly appointed Review and Support Officers.
These officers will work with individuals to get them involved in the process of change, and to ensure that their views are heard.
East Sussex County Council is also looking to recruit a number of ‘Peer Support Specialists’.
These are people that use mental health services and who are specially trained to support others in the same situation.
A bank of Peer Support Specialists will be recruited to support the service users within the day centres as identified by the review and support officers.
