Brent Dual Diagnosis project earns St Mungo's an award nomination

16 July 2010

St Mungo's innovative Brent Dual Diagnosis project which helps people with a combination of severe and enduring mental health and substance use problems has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The Dual Diagnosis project in Brent is unlike others in that it takes a holistic approach to helping people by considering their social, physical and psychological needs together and integrating psychotherapists and other professionals into an in-house support team.

This means that the person benefits from a tailored and personalised service within an ethos of all-round recovery. Clients mainly move into the project on discharge from psychiatric hospitals. Since St Mungo's introduced this model of working two years ago, there have been no rehospitalisations, and 17 out of 18 moves on from the project have been to independent or less supported accommodation.

The project is one of six shortlisted to win an Andy Ludlow Homelessness Award at a ceremony in London on 21 October.

These will be the 12th Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards. They are run by London Councils and named in memory of Andy Ludlow, former director of Housing and Social Services in the London Borough of Haringey, who died at a tragically young age.

Peter Cockersell, Director of Health and Recovery at St Mungo's, said: "It's great news that such a successful project as Brent Dual Diagnosis has been recognised as a quality service in this way. Achieving positive recovery outcomes with clients with a dual diagnosis is often seen as very difficult but clients really benefit from this approach and it's something we'd like to replicate in other areas."

Nigel Minto, Head of Sustainable Communities at London Councils said: "We're absolutely delighted with the high standard of entries to this year's awards. Every organisation that has entered should be extremely proud of the work they're doing to help homeless people in the capital.

"These six shortlisted projects illustrate some of the very best work being done by groups across London and this year we have a really mixed and exciting bag. We look forward to announcing the winner in the autumn and wish them all the very best of luck!"

Update - see more in Inside Housing magazine

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  • For more information, contact Judith Higgin, media manager, St Mungo's, on 020 8762 5645 or email: judith.higgin@mungos.org
  • The awards are funded by all 33 London authorities together with sponsorship from London Housing Foundation, the government's department for Communities and Local Government, and Shelter. The awards are also supported by Inside Housing magazine.
  • Read more about the Awards on London Councils website
  • Read more about our services for people with complex needs, including the Dual Diagnosis project.

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