Pathways to Independence: tailored activities for patients

source: Catalyst/Sandra Griffiths
published: 8 October 2024

A promising new mental health initiative that will help inpatients to adjust to life outside of hospital environments, will be rolled out by Birmingham Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) this autumn with the support of Catalyst 4 Change.

Pathways to Independence will involve the delivery of a range of individually tailored activities for patients being cared for in the Trust’s medium secure units.

Leading up to hospital discharge and building on each patient’s personalised care plan, BSMHFT’s Community Engagement Team will roll out the initiative, giving more than 200 patients the confidence and tools they need to successfully integrate into life outside inpatient mental health care.

The activities will include advice and support with securing work, housing, further education and recreational activities such as arts, music and sport which should reduce the likelihood of readmission to hospital. 

Research data from BSMHFT’s secure and complex care services found that around 8% of BSMHFT patients are readmitted within six months of discharge.

Co-designed with the support of male and female inpatients in BSMHFT’s Tamarind, Reaside, Ardenleigh and Hillis Lodge sites, Pathways to Independence will cost £230,000 and has been funded through REACH OUT, the West Midlands Provider Collaborative (PC) for adult secure mental health services and learning disability and autism services.

Beresford Dawkins, Community Engagement Lead along with Clinical Inequality Leads Rohon Webber and Jasmin Benjamin Raj, will be leading the rollout of Pathways to Independence.

Beresford said: “Living independently after spending time in a mental health setting can be a really difficult readjustment which is why many of our patients end up being readmitted.”

Director of Operations, Marimouttou Coumarassamy commented: “Pathways to Independence has been co-designed with patients, for patients. By finding out a patient’s end goal at the beginning of their mental health journey, we can offer tailored activities to build up their confidence prior to being discharged."

This initiative will transform the lives of many patients who have had difficulties in integrating back into our communities.

Weekly activities will be delivered to 217 inpatients across BSMHFT’s four main secure care facilities – Tamarind, Reaside, Ardenleigh and Hillis Lodge.

The activities will be delivered by community organisations and social enterprises that have been involved alongside BSMHFT in the development of the initiative – the majority of whom are Black Led.

The organisations, delivering the activities, are part of a wider collective of 22 organisations called Sustainable Community Initiative. Sandwell African and Caribbean Mental Health Foundation Trust will be responsible for supporting the development of this collective into a consortium in 2025.

For further information please contact: enquiries@catalyst4change.org.uk