Residents of Kent and Medway who need help to manage a mental health crisis will now be able to find that support at a 24/7 crisis and recovery house.
The Medway Crisis and Recovery House is a partnership project between the NHS in Kent and Medway, Pears Foundation and Hestia.
This marks the first partnership between the NHS and a charitable foundation to establish a crisis house in Kent and Medway.
The house is designed to offer a community-based alternative to hospital-based care for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
24/7 support
At the house, guests will be supported by highly trained mental health experts to develop coping skills, build resilience and take control of their lives so they can return home and keep well. During their stay, residents will be supported to establish their goals for recovery, and encouraged to try activities that bring joy and social connection, such as creative art. Members of the team can also signpost other local services depending on individual needs.
The house is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days per week and offers private ensuite rooms as well as a communal kitchen, lounge and garden. As well as providing comfortable accommodation, guests can manage their own schedule, cook and access the community as they would in their own home.
Guests at the crisis house are referred by the mental health provider Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.
Sir Trevor Pears CMG, Executive Chair, Pears Foundation, said: “We’ve been so impressed and uplifted by how the NHS team in Kent has worked collaboratively with their local emergency service partners to transform the emergency response for people in mental health crisis. A crisis and recovery house is an important part of that mix, offering people in distress a calm place where they can feel safe and supported to deescalate. My family and I are proud to provide this building, a tangible example of philanthropy working in partnership with the NHS.”
NHS Kent and Medway Chief Nursing Officer Paul Lumsden said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Pears Foundation and Hestia. We know the emergency department is not the right entry into the health service when you are experiencing a mental health crisis, and this recovery house offers a real alternative to the residents of Kent and Medway. This community-based service supports the NHS national shift towards community-based care and prevention making sure people experiencing emotional distress get the support they need as quickly as possible, and in the right place at the right time.”
Chief Executive of KMPT Sheila Stenson said: “The opening of the Medway Crisis and Recovery House is a great example of how the NHS can collaborate effectively to make a positive difference for people we care for. The success of this partnership comes from focusing on their needs. We know that a crisis and recovery house provides an alternative service for our patients needing immediate support and assistance. Additionally, it helps alleviate pressure on our colleagues in emergency departments. I am genuinely excited to see what the future holds and how we can expand our partnership working to bring these tangible benefits to other areas throughout Kent.”
Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive at Hestia said: “We are pleased to be offering this vital community-based support to anyone in Kent and Medway experiencing a mental health crisis. Hestia currently provides two other crisis and recovery houses in London and the south east, and so we know from our experience that this sort of support can have a life-changing impact. It is essential that we work together to help those who have experienced mental health crisis to find safety, hope and purpose.”