Look Ahead are delighted to have brought together policy makers and health, social care and housing sector experts at our fringe event at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on 24 September.
The session discussed the challenges facing young people’s mental health provision and how to support individuals outside hospital in a community-based model.
Our Chief Executive Chris Hampson was joined on a panel by MPs Dr Beccy Cooper, and Florence Eshalomi who also chairs the Housing, Communities, and Local Government Committee, as well as Dr Sridevi Kalidindi, a National Clinical Lead from NHS England and the journalist Claire Ellicott.
Some of the key insights included:
‘Supported housing is mental health intervention’ – Dr Sridevi Kalidindi.
‘We haven’t found the right way to reach them’ – Florence Eshalomi MP speaking about young people with mental health needs.
‘Young people’s mental health in the community is an absolutely critical issue. It’s about keeping people well not just treating them when they’re sick’ – Dr Beccy Cooper MP.
‘We need a new national supported housing strategy that money can flow through’ – Look Ahead CEO Chris Hampson.
Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) Event
Look Ahead staff were also pleased to join another fringe event hosted by our partners at VODG with Sir Stephen Timms MP as a guest speaker. It was great to have our views represented in the conversation about community-based housing and support solutions for the 2,000 people with a learning disability and Autism currently stuck in hospitals in England.
We are hopeful that these events will drive positive changes in the care, support and housing sector nationally.
