Mental Health Tenancy Support Service (TESS 5)

This service specification applies to a 50-unit housing related floating support service to be delivered for clients experiencing enduring mental health problems.

The aim of this project is to provide floating support for mental health clients by providing assistance to access information, advice, support and resources to enable them to make informed choices. The service will provide flexible housing related support to a minimum of 50 individuals. The provider will be expected to provide a flexible model of support which is tailored to meet individual needs. The service working with individual service users involves a tailored support plan that best meets their needs. The plan focuses on both practical and emotional issues, in order that each person has the best opportunity of living independently as a responsible member of their community.

The service will work with the service user to develop that person’s capacity to live independently in accommodation or sustain his/her ability to do so.

While service users will have a variety and individual intensity of need, there is an expectation that support services will over time be reduced as service users achieve higher levels of independence. Therefore, support provision must be needs led, outcome focused and time scaled.

The management of the property must not constrain the freedoms of the service user beyond those associated with the normal legal terms of occupancy agreements.

The support provider will be responsible for monitoring all aspects of the services provided through the project.