Blackmore House, 19 Junction Road, Romford, Essex, RM1 3QS

Blackmore House provides specialist supported housing for people over the age of 40 with mental health needs. We support people with complex mental and physical health needs and can provide additional support to people with mobility and cognitive needs as well as a past history of substance and alcohol misuse.

The service provides; secure, long and short term accommodation and works flexibly, with a strengths based approach to help those people living with us to develop practical and independent living skills.  People are empowered to identify and work towards their own goals, to develop confidence and resilience.

The service offers:

• Self-direct support sessions with an allocated journey coach.
• Practical support to gain daily living skills, such as budgeting, cooking, shopping and admin.
• Weekly communal activities e.g. art and craft groups, bingo movie nights, equality & diversity events
• Regular communal meals to help people integrate and socialise
• Support with physical and mental health appointments if required
• Support and advice to maintain a tenancy to include health and safety, repairs and security
• Links with charitable organisations, day centres to promote independence
• Signposting and support for those keen to get back into employment or take on voluntary work within the local community
• Library of Targeted Support to help people identify their goals and aspirations

There is no time limit on how long someone can stay at Blackmore House – we offer support to move on into independent living, other supported accommodation, or retirement living.

If more intensive care is required we liaise with health care professionals to discuss additional packages of care suitable for the person’s needs.

We offer a dedicated Journey Coach who is able to deliver support flexibly around individual commitments and needs.  As well as practical advice on day to day issues such as budgeting, shopping, cooking and cleaning.

Our service

Blackmore House is staffed 365 days a year, 7 days a week from 8am – 9pm.  We have a team of journey coaches and project assistants with an on-site manager 4 days a week.  We also have a pool of relief workers to cover when staff are on leave which promotes good working relationships between our customers and staff.

Blackmore House uses assistive technology linked to a 24 hour call centre to empower independence with medication. Each room has a call-back Helpline for emergency support and individual panic alarms.

Using Good Help principles, and Clean Language techniques, we work with service users to help them identify what matters to them, keeps them at the centre of all decisions, and find the best outcome for themselves.  This recognises that each individual is unique, is their own expert, and each will have a tailored outcome that meets their own purpose and plans.

We do this by creating a place that helps people get to where they want to be, by recognising and building upon the strengths and assets of each person.

A key part of this is co-production – doing things with people not for them.

• By using Enabling Language and having conversations that enable people to feel safe and ready to take action for themselves, alongside practical and/or emotional support, helping people to take and sustain action, and step back as they gain the confidence to take action alone, and in doing so, building resilience.
• By helping people to connect with, and take action with other people by identifying role models and peer support.
• By helping people identify opportunities appropriate to them, which may include formal and informal learning, study or training, voluntary or paid work. Developing social networks by attending community activities, doing a sport or hobby, and keeping in touch with family and friends (or anything else they identify for themselves)

Staff are trained to respond to challenging behaviour positively and use ‘Success Agreements’ to enable the person to recognise links between their behaviour and results.

We have an established working relationships with community mental health teams and social workers to ensure the persons wellbeing.

Referrals

Referrals are made via the North East London Foundation Trust and the Older Adults Mental Health Team or Local Community Recovery Team. You must have a formal mental health diagnosis and support funding agreed.  You can also self-refer even if you don’t live in the Havering catchment area and are able to self-fund.