We are delighted to share the news that our new pilot stepdown service at Ashley House in Grantham officially opened on 13 October with the arrival of the first five guests.
Ashley House is a Trust property on Beacon Lane in Grantham that had been temporarily disused. It provides temporary accommodation for up to 15 Lincolnshire residents aged 18 or older who are clinically ready to be discharged from our inpatient wards, or inpatient wards out of area, but who need some extra support to return to independent living. This will reduce the time patients spend on acute wards by improving patient flow, and the cost is being covered entirely from the current budget for expensive out of area placements. It therefore represents an innovative re-purposing of these funds to utilise them more effectively.
The service is being provided by Turning Point, a long-established national social enterprise that specialises in this area. There are two pathways available – for up to four weeks for guests who have their own home to return to, and for up to eight weeks for those who need intensive support to find appropriate accommodation. Guests receive support 24/7 from trained staff, help with practical tasks like cooking, budgeting and applying for benefits, and emotional and recovery-focused support tailored to their individual needs.
You can take a guided tour of the facilities at Ashley House here on our trust’s YouTube channel.
