Short-term Intensive Support

As part of the Lambeth Living Well Alliance, The Tree House offers short stay supported living for people during their recovery following an inpatient stay at hospital.

Working in close partnership with the local mental health teams and primary health services, the focus at The Treehouse is on the person’s individual needs, supporting that person’s plans for independence and community connectivity.

The Tree House enables people to come safely out of hospital sooner than they might have otherwise. The Tree House has brought a new way of working to the “traditional” supported living model, where individuals are provided with emotional support, as well as practical daily living support.

The Tree House team uses Solution Focused Therapy as a core model; people are supported to identify which coping mechanisms work for their recovery and how to utilise these to manage their own mental health. Feedback from people supported at The Tree House suggests this way of working has improved their self-confidence when faced with situations that challenge them. It encourages people to take ownership in their recovery and relapse-prevention plans.

Co-production is the key to the success of The Tree House. Upon arrival, each person develops a quality-of-life plan that describes the areas of support they want and need, and exactly how the team will support them in those areas. This person-centered approach means the focus stays on what that individual wants to achieve.

During their stay, the team continues to work with the person to gather ideas, suggestions and feedback. This means that everybody who stays at The Tree House has individualised support packages that are tailored to their specific needs and wishes. As The Tree House works in collaboration with community mental health teams, housing officers, clinical teams and health and social care teams, any barriers to people’s progress in their goals can be addressed quickly and efficiently. Collaborative working with care coordinators at the hospital is crucial so that the person supported understands the nature of the support on offer at The Treehouse.

Family involvement is also important; where possible, families are encouraged to visit their loved ones at The Tree House, with a focus on open channels of communication. Once people have moved on, they continue to engage with support teams in their community. It is also common for people to visit The Tree House for extra support for weeks, and sometimes months, after they have left.