County Outreach South

Southern Team
The Southern area includes South Norfolk and the majority of Breckland District. We have three office bases, Norwich, Watton and Thetford, and a team of seven outreach workers.

Outreach Support

Our core work in this area consists of outreach support to service users with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. Through outreach support we aim to assist service users as appropriate:

	To find accommodation suitable to their needs usually via housing associations, local authority etc.

	To assist individuals to work through the process of moving which may include benefit advice, help with utilities, finding out about local community facilities.

	To claim correct benefit entitlements and discuss budgeting plans.

	To encourage and support individuals to leave their homes to pay bills and access non-segregated services.

Referrals

Referrals can be made by Community Mental Health Team Members for example Mental Health Social Worker / Community Mental Health Nurse. In some circumstances housing providers may make referrals. In both instances there is a clear referral form which should be sent to the team manager.

The emphasis of the service is to enable individuals to realise their own potential in sustaining their accommodation.

Referrals / enquiries for services in this area should be directed to:

Southern Team Manager
Maggie Kaye
Tel: 01603 767718
E-mail: enquiry@julianhousing.org

Floating Support

The Southern Team also operates ‘floating support’ services. The service is funded by’ Supporting People’. This support can be more or less intensive as needs dictate or can ‘float’ to another tenant if needs diminish. Julian Housing contracts with both South Norfolk Council(via The Greater Norwich Housing Partnership) and Central Supporting People team to provide support to people in any tenure including B & B.

The role of the Floating Support Worker is fundamental in helping prevent a deterioration in someone’s mental health, by absorbing some of the stresses involved in maintaining a tenancy. Whilst the support worker can help with basic issues such as benefits, services and practical tasks, the sustaining role of floating support cannot be overstated.

The Floating Support Worker can assist people to achieve or retain their chosen life style, maximising independence and avoiding hospitalisation, and also help tenants use the resource of the wider community, by helping them back into the social mainstream. Many clients suffering from severe and ongoing mental ill health have talents and strengths that may remain hidden. The Floating Support Worker can help build a tenant’s confidence, developing and strengthening coping strategies. This service can last for up to two years.

Hospital Housing Link Workers

The Southern team works closely with the Hellesdon Hospital Link Worker service (see separate leaflet), ensuring that South Norfolk and Breckland inpatients are able to sustain existing accommodation while in hospital, or, if homeless, are connected to appropriate housing pathways.