To make a referral,
contact our Registered Manager
0114 489 4434 | admin@sukooncareandsupport.co.uk
Referrals & Getting Started
We welcome referrals from local authority commissioners, NHS Community Mental Health Teams, care coordinators, social workers, families and individuals themselves — across South Yorkshire and neighbouring regions.
Our referral process is unhurried and led by the person. We do not want to overwhelm anyone, and we want to achieve the most positive outcome within a realistic timeframe. A placement that is rushed is a placement that breaks down — and everyone pays for that, most of all the person at the centre of it.
Our Referral Process — Step by Step
Step 1 — Pre-Admission Assessment
Following a referral, our Registered Manager undertakes a thorough pre-admission assessment and completes risk assessments, usually carried out in the person’s current place of residence. This holistic assessment takes into account where they would like to live, how they would like to be supported, and whom they would like to live with.
We ensure people are supported by family, friends and external professionals so they feel comfortable during the process. Information is given in formats they can understand, and there are opportunities to discuss what matters to them personally and what aspirations they have for their own home. This may take several meetings, and the pace is guided by the individual.
Step 2 — Funding Agreement
Once a funding agreement has been received in principle from the local authority, we look to identify potential tenancies and undertake compatibility assessments.
Step 3 — Visits and Informed Choice
An initial visit to the potential tenancy is arranged. If the visit is a positive experience, the individual can arrange further visits — providing opportunities to meet other people we support and our staff, and to make a genuinely informed decision. Nobody signs anything on a first visit.
Step 4 — Transition Plan
A comprehensive transition plan is agreed to ensure a smooth move. This gives the person time to adjust to their new surroundings and makes moving into the tenancy an easier, more gradual process. Provided all parties agree the tenancy is in the individual’s best interests, the Registered Manager confirms this with the commissioning team to ensure funding is secured.
Step 5 — Support Planning and Key Working
New service users are given our Service User Guide, setting out our aims and objectives, philosophy of the service, the services we provide and our terms and conditions. The person discusses how they would like their support delivered and works in partnership with the Registered Manager to tailor the support plan individually. A key worker is assigned to work closely with them, ensuring consistency and promoting life skills that support independent living.
What We Need From a Referral
To respond quickly and accurately, it helps if a referral includes:
- The person's current situation, accommodation and any planned discharge date
- Their mental health needs and diagnosis, and any recent risk assessment
- Any Mental Health Act status — Section 117 aftercare, Community Treatment Order or Guardianship arrangements
- Current medication and any monitoring requirements
- The indicative hours or level of support being considered, and funding position
- Care coordinator and CMHT contact details
- The person's own views and preferences, wherever these have been captured
If you do not have all of this, send what you have. We would rather start the conversation and fill the gaps together.
Involving Family and Friends
With the person’s approval, relatives are encouraged to be involved in formal reviews. Service users and their relatives are always welcome to speak with a member of staff should they have any suggestions or concerns — you do not need to wait for a review date to talk to us.
