When someone is ready to leave hospital, the right home in the right place can make all the difference – not just to their recovery, but to the NHS as well. That’s exactly what our Mental Health Pathway in Mansbridge, Southampton sets out to do.
Through a partnership between Abri, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust when the pathway launched in 2019) and local homelessness charity The Society of St James (SSJ), this project is supporting people with long-term mental health needs to safely move out of hospital and begin rebuilding their lives.
The challenge
One in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year. As pressure on NHS mental health services grows, the lack of appropriate housing is making it harder for people to move on once they’re ready to leave hospital. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust found that across Hampshire, around 60 people – many from Southampton – were placed in costly temporary accommodation in other cities, sometimes as far away as Liverpool or Manchester, at an average cost of £600 per day. These were people who no longer needed clinical care but had nowhere suitable to go.
The solution
Abri worked with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to offer 15 homes in Mansbridge, on the edge of Southampton. These properties are leased to SSJ, who manage the homes and provide support. The location helps people stay close to local services and communities, while offering a stable base to continue their recovery.
The homes offer more than a roof over someone’s head – they offer time, space and support. Each lease runs for seven years, giving people a genuine opportunity to put down roots without the pressure of having to move on before they’re ready.
The results
- The pathway began in 2019 and is still going strong, currently providing nine people with a safe, stable place to call home as they continue their recovery.
- Many residents have come from acute inpatient settings, but thanks to the support and stability offered, there have been no hospital readmissions.
- Residents are beginning to feel part of their local community – a vital step towards long-term recovery.
- The pathway is delivering real savings for the NHS and reducing the need for costly, out-of-area placements.
What we’ve learned
- Partnerships are essential. Abri provides housing and development expertise; SSJ offers day-to-day support and understands the needs of the client group; Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust helps shape the model from a clinical perspective. Together, we’ve created a pathway that works.
- Longer-term leases give people the breathing space they need and reduce pressure on services.
- Sustainable funding is vital. Clear contracts and shared responsibilities – including a ‘void agreement’ with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust– have helped keep the project viable.
- Referral routes matter. Southampton City Council highlighted the importance of having clear pathways into supported housing, especially when multiple funding streams are involved.
The bigger picture
This is one of many examples across the country showing how supported housing can help ease pressure on the NHS by reducing delayed discharges, improving outcomes, and cutting costs. It also shows how giving people the right home at the right time can be genuinely life-changing.
By bringing health, housing and care together, we can help people take that important next step in their recovery – and in doing so, help get our NHS back on its feet.