BLOG: How our Mental Health Liaison service can support you

By Christine Kiwanuka, Mental Health Liaison Team Leader

For some people who experience mental ill health, it can be difficult to juggle and keep up with day-to-day tasks. It can be even more of a challenge to manage mental ill health during difficult times like what we’re living through at the moment with rising cost of living and the aftermath of the pandemic setting in. I lead the Mental Health Liaison team at Network Homes, and we work with residents who are experiencing mental health issues and are at risk of losing their tenancies. We work to increase independence, maintain tenancies and support residents in their recovery.

What does our Mental Health Liaison team do?

• We support residents with multiple severe mental health issues who are at risk of losing their tenancy or subject to tenancy enforcement action.
• We work closely with teams and departments within Network Homes on behalf of residents.
• We bridge the gap between residents experiencing mental health episodes and local mental health service providers.
• We complete risk assessment support plans.
• We raise awareness of mental health issues and wellbeing among residents through workshops and events.
• We work with other legal and voluntary support agencies and external organisations to secure support for residents.

What do we hope to achieve?

• We want to improve residents’ mental wellbeing as well as their ability to manage their tenancy and carry out day-to-day activities whilst managing their mental ill health.
• We ensure that residents develop to their maximum potential, gaining confidence and improving their sense of self-worth.
• We address and resolve the original reason for referral.
• We reduce mental health stigma.

How to use this service

If you’re a resident of Network Homes who is experiencing mental health challenges which make it difficult to manage your tenancy, or if you are concerned about a neighbour’s mental health, please get in touch with the Mental Health Liaison team by emailing mentalhealth@networkhomes.org.uk or calling our contact centre on 0300 373 3000.

You can find out more about the work my team do by reading our interview with Michael, a Hertford resident who we supported to launch a mental health community group in Sele Farm.