Potterdale Drop-in and Community Support Service aims to improve the lives of adults aged 50+ who live with mental health problems and are socially isolated in the south Leeds area (old south Leeds PCT area). SPECIFIC AIMS To promote and increase social inclusion, To promote and maintain independence, To promote and enable recovery OBJECTIVES To act as an intermediary between mental health and mainstream services, To encourage clients to find meaningful occupation, To provide social activities in partnership with mainstream service providers, To support clients to maintain independence in their own homes, To enable clients devise coping strategies to manage mental health needs OUTCOMES Increased confidence, Improved social skills, Increased social network, Increased awareness of social opportunities, Improved motivation, Reduction in stigma attached to mental health in mainstream services THE WAY POTTERDALE WORKS Potterdale operates a building based drop-in at Potterdale Community Resource Centre three days a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Potterdale has a policy of throwing the doors open to both get clients engaged in community based activities and invite the public into the drop-in to join appropriate group activities and so promote social inclusion. For example, Potterdale has run a local history group in partnership with Joseph Priestly College based at the drop-in and at the local college with field work in the local library and the area of Leeds being studied. This group is open to and attended by members of the public. Potterdale also run community based groups. For example a group meets on a Friday, at the Broadway Pub, for lunch and to socialise with the eventual aim of creating a service user led group. Clients make their own way to the Broadway, often by sharing taxis or buddying up to catch the bus. This group is an open group and attended by some family, friends and neighbours of clients. Another community group joined an existing established group at the spinning wheel WMC and is run on Thursday afternoons. On Thursday mornings, a women's group meets at the Hamara Healthy Living Centre to join an exercise group to use the gym facilities. An additional group meets up to use the community café based at St Barnaby's in Belle Isle on Wednesday lunchtimes and other community based groups are being planned. Potterdale works closely with mainstream services to introduce users to existing opportunities in the community, breakdown barriers and raise awareness of mental health issues. For example, Potterdale has facilitated joint user groups at the Hamara Healthy Living Centre, Belle Isle over 55's club, Holbeck Elderly Aid, Dewsbury Road over 55's club and Belle Isle 59 club. As a result of establishing these links, users have built the confidence to use these services in addition to the services at Potterdale and eventually move on from Potterdale. Potterdale also assists Service Users to find other meaningful occupation, for example, volunteering, paid work, joining educational courses, faith groups, art and cultural activities, intergenerational groups, etc. COMMUNITY SUPPORT One-to-one home and community support is provided primarily when the drop-in is not open to users. This service is available to people who attend the drop-in as well as those who do not make use of its facilities. The main objective of this service is to increase and maintain independence. Workers can provide support to ensure that service users can gain access to services available in the community and in the development of life and social skills, befriending and practical help around the home. Potterdale can arrange for Service Users to join a user lead shopping group that meet in Morrison's on Wednesdays. Potterdale also provides a monthly shopping service for non-food shopping for people who can not shop independently to garden centres, DIY stores, clothing stores or shopping centres in accordance to the needs and wishes of the Service User group. As service users are predominantly aged 70+ the monitoring of physical health issues is paramount. The project ensures that health needs are not neglected by accompanying service users to GP, hospital and other health care appointments until users are confident with attending appointments independently. REFERRALS Referrals are welcome from professionals, carers or the person seeking the service. Referrals can be made by contacting Potterdale on 0113 270 8673. Staff will ask a series of questions to determine the person's suitability and needs. A decision can usually be made there and then, however, if further information is needed this may be gathered by liaison with other professionals working with the person (subject to permission being granted) or an interview when the person comes to look around the service. A date will be set for an assessment of the person's needs and they will be invited to Potterdale to evaluate the service for themselves. A letter confirming their acceptance will then be sent to them and the referrer. Potterdale will carry out an initial needs assessment of the client, usually with the referrer. The assessment will decide the degree of social isolation the person lives with, the activities they have previously been involved in, want to take up again and new activities. Their keyworker will then agree support goals with the person to achieve their aims. Very often, a typical plan of support for a person who is socially isolated will offer a drop in place at Potterdale once a week and encourage the person to join community based groups facilitated by Potterdale and then look for opportunities to join mainstream groups. The client and their keyworker will sign a support contract offering support for a limited period with the eventual aim of moving the person onto mainstream services and meaningful occupation. Because places are limited, Potterdale is often forced to operate a waiting list. When this is the case available places are prioritised according to the extent of the person's isolation, vulnerability and length of time on the waiting list. APPEALS Where a referral request has been refused and the applicant or their referrer is not satisfied with the reasons given, they have the right to appeal the decision. Appeals should be made within 10 working days of receipt of the written decision using the accompanying appeals form. Once received an appeals meeting will be arranged within 5 working days chaired by a Service Manager at which the applicant and their referrer have the opportunity to state why they disagreed with the decision. An appeal decision will then be made within 3 working days. STAFF AND MANAGEMENT The staff team consists of a Team Leader, Brian Garbett and three Project Workers, Julia Butterworth, Sheila Mitchell and Lyn Minskip. The Team Leader reports to a Service Manager, Roger Barden who is based at Leeds Housing Concern's central office.al office. CONTACT DETAILS Postal Address Potterdale Community Resoirce Centre 192 Dewsbury Road Leeds LS11 6ER Telephone/Fax: (0113) 270 8673 Team Leader: Brian Garbett Telephone: 0113 270 8316.  email:bgarbett@leedshc.org.uk Service Manager: Roger Barden Telephone: 0113 272 8499 email: rbarden@leedshc.org.uk Referrals / General Enquiries: Telephone: 0113 270 8673 POTTERDALE is part of the i3 collaborative working to improve mental health day services in Leeds