Residential and supported accommodation
We provide supported accommodation for people with substance misuse problems, and also for young people leaving care and those unable to live with their own families. Our core aim is to help people learn to live independently and to lead fulfilling and purposeful lives within the community. Our work is underpinned by a belief that finding and keeping stable accommodation is essential to leading a productive and crime free life.
St Thomas Fund Residential Treatment Services
Supported Accommodation for Substance Misusers
St Thomas Fund Residential Treatment Services
CRI runs a residential treatment service for people with substance misuse problems which aims to support individuals in becoming drug and alcohol free and protect communities from substance misuse. The service is based on cognitive behavioural therapy and provides a staged process of structured support to promote abstinence, but includes some elements of the 12-step fellowship programmes provided by Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, whose meetings residents are actively encouraged to attend. This combined approach has been shown to deliver high levels of success in terms of programme completion, continued abstinence and crime reduction.
The first stage of support is intensive 24-hour care in a controlled environment. It is geared towards getting people used to being drug free and towards helping them identify the issues underlying their drug use. The second stage is more therapy based and people are also encouraged to get involved in training, education or voluntary work. This helps them identify their strengths and try out new experiences that might provide a route into employment. At the third stage the support is reduced to the point where people become fully independent.
Supported Accommodation for Substance Misusers
CRI provides a range of supported accommodation for people attending structured day care programmes and for those who have completed treatment programmes. The aim of this support is to maintain people's commitment to treatment and rehabilitation and to maximising the opportunities they can gain from treatment programmes. For those who have successfully completed programmes, the emphasis is on relapse management and on developing life skills to enable them to enter education, training or employment.
CRI also provides specialist support to homeless people living in hostel accommodation provided by another housing association, especially for those with substance misuse problems. Services provided include assessment, care plans, one to one and group work. In addition, volunteer befrienders help individuals learn how to live independently and become actively engaged in the local community. Befrienders assist clients in working towards meeting personal, social and educational goals, and offer practical help to assist people in engaging with other support services.
