Waltham Forest residents will soon have access to mental health support services in Redbridge, as part of a wider initiative to improve community care across North East London.
The Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard on Tuesday that a crisis house in Redbridge, offering up to two weeks of support, has been extended to Waltham Forest residents due to available capacity. This is part of a broader strategy to provide more accessible mental health services and strengthen community pathways.
Marie Johnson, the Chief Operating Officer at North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), explained that the crisis house, located a short distance from the Goodmayes site, provides residents with small, independent flats and support for up to two weeks. We started with just offering the service in Redbridge, but we didn't have enough capacity at that point. So we extended it to open to Waltham Forest residents as well.
Councillor Richard Sweden inquired about the capacity of mental health services and whether neighbouring trusts could offer support. Marie Johnson responded that NELFT works closely with East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), particularly in Waltham Forest, to ensure residents receive the best possible care. She also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen community pathways and early intervention services.
The extension of the Redbridge crisis house to Waltham Forest residents represents a step towards more accessible and integrated mental health support in the region. The initiative aims to provide timely assistance and prevent escalation of mental health issues, ensuring residents receive the care they need within their local community.