We’ve launched our pioneering new wellbeing service, which will see health and housing working together to help and support some of our most vulnerable customers across Hampshire to improve their health and wellbeing.

Working in partnership with Solent NHS Trust, the new service will be provided by our new wellbeing workers, delivering the first service of its kind in the South. They’ll act as the link between housing, health, social and other wellbeing services, by supporting customers to access and engage in treatment, continue with their recovery, prevent crisis and sustain their tenancy.

The new service supports research from the Health Foundation, that found that investing in housing support for vulnerable people keeps them healthy and benefits public services. The study found that every £1 invested, delivers nearly £2 of benefit through costs avoided by health, care and crime services.

Tom Norris, our Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re delighted to launch our new wellbeing service, and we’re excited to see the benefits that joint working between health and housing will bring to some of the area’s most vulnerable people.

“We explored this service following feedback from staff, who’ve seen an increase in customers with poor mental health struggling to access the services that they need. As well as supporting these customers to engage with us, our wellbeing service will also support our health colleagues by reducing delayed discharges and supporting high intensity users of emergency services.”

Sue Harriman, Chief Executive, from Solent NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with VIVID on the launch of their new wellbeing service. Integrated working means a better experience of care for our patients and service users, keeping them safe, well and out of hospital. Together we will reach even more people, and care for them through even more stages of their lives.”

This new service was developed as part of the work of the ‘Keep Well Collaborative’ – a group of senior public sector health, housing and social care leaders from across Hampshire who are working together to help build stronger, healthier communities.