The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is seeking to re-procure three mental health supported living services located within the borough to provide support to residents unable to live independently as a result of poor mental health.

These settings are intended for service users with mental ill-health who may have had a significant admission to institutional care under The Mental Health Act.

The proposed services aim to offer a viable alternative to residential care settings, delivering support relating to tenancy management, activities of daily living, mental health recovery and any wider support needs such as substance misuse or involvement with the criminal justice system.

This contract is intended for service users with a mental ill-health that have been subject to a Care Act Assessment upon admission to institutional care (e.g. hospitals).

The services will provide support that is tailored and flexible and in accordance with individual's needs, with an emphasis on supporting the transition for service users with strong focus on helping them in their journey towards recovery and independence.

The mental health supported living pathway in Tower Hamlets is commissioned to offer two distinct functions; high support and step-down.

High support services have staff on site 24/7, who deliver an average of 8 hours of direct support per resident each week.

High support services have a single point of access monitored by staff with residents residing in self-contained units.

Step-down services are typically located within 5 minutes' walk of high support site.

Residents will typically access high support services following hospitalisation for their mental ill-health and will move on to step-down following a sustained period of recovery and basic tenancy management skills.

The step-down function allows residents to move on whilst accessing support as needed before departing into a more independent living setting such as general needs housing.

The Local Authority is seeking to procure three supported living contracts; - Lot 1 - known locally as Huddleston Close - Lot 2 - known locally as Teresa House and Hamlets Way offering 32 high support units; 16 at each site. - Lot 3 - known locally as Cannon Street Road offering 20 high support units.

Successful provider/s will be required to deliver support services to service users that will enable them to develop the life skills required to maintain their independence within the community thus preventing unnecessary use of more institutional forms of care and hospital admissions.