Next Steps Mental Health and Wellbeing

The Council has a priority for a Thriving Sustainable Cornwall that offers a secure home for all – this work directly contributes to this priority by bringing people in from the streets and supporting them into more sustainable move-on accommodation. The Mental Health service supports both of these objectives.

The Council has a further priority of Vibrant, Safe, Supported Communities where health starts at home. This work directly contributes to this priority in a number of ways: rough sleeping both places individuals at risk of crime but also makes communities feel less safe due to its visibility and associated or perceived behaviours (street drinking, anti-social behaviour etc). By addressing and reducing rough sleeping and by meeting the wider needs of rough sleepers, communities feel safer and individuals are supported in safer environments. In addition, there are other projects that focus on improving the health of people who sleep rough, through addressing substance misuse, supporting hospital discharge and supporting complex females around sexual abuse and sexual violence. This project links with a wide range of accommodation and support services for rough sleepers.

These services links to the Council’s priorities in the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy which include prevention, intervention and recovery from rough sleeping with this service forming part of a wider pathway for rough sleepers from the streets into their own tenancies. The Next Steps team who will manage and support this provision work very closely with current CHL services with all referrals going through the Rough Sleeping Team in CHL. This will adjust to the new County Wide Hub in the RSI 5 service delivery model.

This Next Steps service also works in partnership with the mainstream Mental Health and Adult Social Care services, Drug and Alcohol, Safeguarding, and Domestic Abuse Services. Employment and Training and general social inclusion will also be considered, and links will be made with local Voluntary Sector organisations.

This service will also be closely aligned to Community Safety within the council and the wider Criminal Justice service ensuring a critical contribution and effective multi-agency working across a vast partnership of services. The operational team link with the Rough Sleeper Operational Groups and Safer Towns as appropriate.