Queens Cross Housing Association merges services to make Queen’s Cross Wellbeing

Queens Cross Housing Association is to merge its services for older people, young homeless people and those experiencing mental health issues in northwest Glasgow.

Queens Cross Housing Association merges services to make Queen's Cross Wellbeing

Chief officer of Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership, Susanne Millar, joined staff and service users at the launch of the new Queens Cross Wellbeing service

The newly-created service is called Queens Cross Wellbeing.

Louise Smith, Queens Cross’s director of neighbourhood services, said: “Being a social landlord is about so much more than providing a house; our extra support services help improve our tenants’ abilities to live happy, fulfilled lives. The new service combines our priorities of promoting independence, linking people to their communities and connecting people so they feel safe and included.

“The new names for these services tell people exactly what support is offered, and positions a service that reflects the priorities of Glasgow’s Health & Social Care Partnership.”

Susanne Millar, interim chief officer of Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “‘This is a great example of how we can use our existing resources more effectively, focusing on what can be achieved to make lives better for people living in the city.

“Mental health and well-being issues impact on as many of the city’s citizens as the other well-known challenges around diseases such as cancer, heart disease and obesity. The difference is, all too often it is hidden away, and the damage can therefore also be hidden and difficult to respond to. Initiatives like Queens Cross Wellbeing for good mental health is a great example of how we can overcome this.

“The new service also reflects the direction of travel that services for adults and older people needs to be moving, towards more early intervention support to keep people at home for as long as possible. This is what the vast majority of service users want, and this Queens Cross model is a blueprint that could be replicated elsewhere to help achieve this.”

Wellbeing: housing first for young people, combines the Association’s current Council for Homeless Young People (CHYP), which offers supported accommodation for young people, and their Fire Station Project that offers outreach housing support. All in all, around 50 young people are offered support to help them live stable, independent lives.

Wellbeing: for people age 60+ is the new name for the extra support Queens Cross provides for older people. This includes support to help people who have been ill or in hospital to readjust to living on their own again. It is a service open to everyone in the Queens Cross area, not just tenants.

Wellbeing: for good mental health, is the new name for the service supporting people experiencing or recovering from mental health-related issues.

Queens Cross manages around 4,500 houses in the city and is currently planning a development of further 300 homes for rent in the Hamiltonhill area.

Ms Millar added: “The new Wellbeing brand will help potential services users and new staff to understand what we deliver. The changes are designed to ensure we are providing support where it’s needed most to help more people live independently at home for longer.”

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