Somerset mental health rehabilitation service grows in strength

Our mental health rehabilitation service has relaunched to strengthen the support colleagues provide to people across Somerset, and to help more individuals live independently and well in their own communities.

For many years, Willow ward has been the county’s only dedicated mental health rehabilitation setting. While colleagues on the ward have consistently provided high‑quality inpatient care, a single‑site approach couldn’t meet the full range of needs across Somerset.

The relaunch expands rehabilitation beyond the ward, with a specialist community rehabilitation team now working directly with people in their homes and neighbourhoods.

The service supports adults with complex, long‑term mental health needs to move on from inpatient care, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and rebuild their lives in the community.

It’s an integrated team, which includes colleagues from our trust, Rethink Mental Illness, Mind in Somerset, and Second Step.

Imogen Langston, manager on Willow ward, says the move reflects a growing understanding that rehabilitation must be flexible and person‑centred.

“We recognised that some people didn’t need inpatient care, while others needed longer‑term, community‑based support that simply couldn’t be delivered from the ward alone,” she says. “Developing a community team has completely changed what rehabilitation can look like in Somerset.”

Our community rehabilitation team includes mental health key workers alongside rehabilitation and wellbeing workers, providing support seven days a week.

Colleagues work closely with people before discharge through in‑reach support, helping plan the transition from hospital to home and building trusted relationships early.

“Transitions are now smoother, safer and far more personalised,” Imogen says. “The team helps with practical things like benefits, furniture, visits and moving arrangements, which might seem small but make a huge difference at a critical point in someone’s recovery.

“After discharge, support continues in the community, helping people develop daily living skills, build routines, connect with local services and work towards personal goals.

“The approach is trauma‑informed, recovery‑oriented and led by what matters most to each individual, and the impact of this model can already be seen in the experiences of people using the service."

One patient supported by the team describes how consistent, compassionate home‑based support helped them regain confidence, manage their home independently, rebuild social connections and dramatically improve their mental health.

With tailored emotional and practical support, they were able to take small but significant steps, from travelling independently and managing household bills to reducing medication, reconnecting with friends and feeling safe and settled in their new home.

“They gave me a sense of hope and helped me believe I could heal,” the patient says. “I feel grounded, content and optimistic about the future. I’m so glad to be alive.”

The relaunch also strengthens care pathways for mental health colleagues across the trust. Referrals to our community rehabilitation team are made via RiO for eligible patients with an existing key worker in place, including those currently in hospital or receiving care out of area who need support returning to Somerset.

By expanding rehabilitation into the community, colleagues are now able to offer personalised, flexible support to more people, at the right time and in the right place.

“Working together in this new way has allowed us to build a more coherent and compassionate rehabilitation service,” Imogen adds.

“It means more people across Somerset can live safely, confidently and independently in their communities.”