A new £1.3 million supported-housing development in Walker is helping Newcastle residents with mental health needs live more independently as Labour transforms the way support is provided across the city.
The new purpose-built accommodation at Scrogg Road has welcomed its first residents this spring, replacing older accommodation which was no longer suitable for the needs of the people using the service.
Developed with Leazes Homes, the new facility has been designed specifically to support residents to develop the skills and confidence they need to live as independently as possible.
The investment forms part of a wider change being made by Newcastle’s Labour-led council to the way mental-health support is provided.
The council has restructured its mental-health service around a recovery-based approach, placing greater emphasis on people’s individual strengths, choices and aspirations.
Rather than residents simply receiving care, the approach is designed to give people a greater say over their own recovery and support them to develop the everyday skills needed to become more independent.
Newcastle’s Recovery Support Team works with around 70 people with mental health conditions across the city, including residents receiving support in specialist accommodation.
At Scrogg Road, residents have their own living space while trained staff remain available to provide personalised support.
The new building has been designed around the needs of the people who will live there, creating a safe and supportive environment without unnecessarily restricting residents’ independence.
Labour believes good housing and good social care must work together, giving people the security of an appropriate home alongside the support they need to take greater control of their lives.
The new Walker development demonstrates that approach in practice, combining investment in purpose-built accommodation with a fundamental change in the way the council supports residents with mental health needs.
Council Leader Cllr Nick Forbes said: “Labour wants Newcastle’s services to support people to live fulfilling and independent lives, and that means looking at what people can achieve rather than simply focusing on the support they need.
“This £1.3 million investment in Walker provides purpose-built accommodation where residents can have greater independence while knowing that support is there when they need it.
“We’re changing our approach so that people have a greater say in their own recovery, can build their confidence and develop the skills they need to take greater control over their lives.
“This is about combining good-quality housing with personalised support and treating every resident as an individual with their own ambitions, choices and potential.”