Milton Keynes City Council is planning to invest in its short-term accommodation services for adults (18+) with mental health needs in response to an increase in local referrals.
Within the past year, the city council has seen a 13% increase in referrals to their dedicated mental health and complex needs team and a 30% increase in supported living placements for working age adults. This includes people who need some extra help after leaving hospital through to adults with complex needs requiring 24/7 support over a short-term period.
Currently, the city council funds 38 beds over four sites with private bathroom and kitchen facilities in most locations. This enables city council and health professionals to offer extra care for people with various mental health needs for up to two years.
The city council is proposing to expand the number of beds available by a further ten, modernise the facilities on offer and introduce a complex needs service that can help the most vulnerable residents with medication and personal care at the start of their recovery.
A decision to commission new services and invest more than £3.5million over five years will be made next week during a council meeting on 30 January, with the new services expected to start in late 2024.
“Just like councils across the country, we are seeing a huge increase in need for mental health support outside of the hospital. We want to invest in our short-term accommodation, prepare for additional referrals and build in additional, specialised care. This is about helping people to live independently in the longer-term, offering the right support at the right time.”
Information for prospective local providers will be issued via a Prior Information Notice on our procurement portal.
To find out more about care and support available to adults living in Milton Keynes, please visit our website.