Living in Hillbrook House

Reigate & Redhill YMCA, Hillbrook House offers a range of services to its clients. Housing provided for young people between the ages of 16 and 30. Tenancies run from six months to two years.

The facility consists of 42 self contained bed sit rooms (one of which is specifically designed for disabled access), a crash pad (for emergency accommodation), an activity room, and laundry facilities.

The ground floor is designed with wheelchair access in mind and includes facilities for disabled clients and visitors. We also have an Activity Room for Residents to meet up, watch films and relax. We will soon be taking requests from residents and organising various activities.

The range of services available to clients includes;

• Low cost housing.
• Individual action / support Plans to aid personal development.
• Work and Learn Program.
• Assessing educational and career needs.
• Providing awareness of relevant opportunities for self improvement.
• Access to partnership service providers.
• Assistance in planning move on accommodation counselling.
• Debt management / personal budgeting.

Your Action Plan

Because we offer Supporting Housing we ask that residents work with our Housing Support Team to put together an individual Action Plan. This is opportunity to develop skills and abilities and puts down in writing the support needs of the resident and what both the Reigate & Redhill YMCA and the resident will do to help the resident to move forward and achieve their goals. The Action Plan can assist you in gaining the skills that you need to maintain your accommodation and eventually move into more permanent accommodation and engage with the local community.

Your Action Plan will be reviewed regularly and, where appropriate, changed. Every Action Plan will be reviewed with you at least every two months but you can ask for a review at any time. If you are unhappy about any changes made to your Action Plan you can ask for this to be reviewed by the Housing Support Manger. Please remember that while this is a low support project you did agree to attend Action Plan meetings when you signed your licence agreement. We hope that you will see this process as a positive opportunity to develop yourself and plan for your future.

Your Support Team

The Housing Support Team here at Hillbrook House consists of,

Adam Brooks - Housing Manager
Nadine Luelsdorf - Housing Support Worker
Debbie Griffin - Housing Support Worker
Barkey Caboo - Housing Support Worker
Jessica Rowlands - Reception / Housing Support Admin
Jan Holder - Finance Officer
Alan Marsh - Maintenance
Precious Chitambira - Night Support Worker
Rita Oluwatoyin - Night Support Worker
Tressie Mukamba - Night Support Worker
Lucy Mortimer - Connexions Personal Adviser

No day is the same but some of their duties are listed below,

• Interviewing potential new residents.
• Assisting new residents in settling in and making them feel at home.
• Providing personal support services to residents making sure that a package of support is provided either internally or externally.
• Face to face meetings with residents.
• Giving advice on welfare benefits.
• Developing life skills.
• Liaising with other voluntary and statutory agencies.
• Attending review meetings relating to residents.
• Key working with residents.
• Assisting residents in accessing education, training and employment.
• Accompanying residents to appointments - social security, job centre, doctor, dentist etc if required.
• Helping residents to access more permanent accommodation.
• Providing a range of programme and leisure activities for residents.
• Implementing and reviewing agreed policies and procedures.
• Ensuring that House Rules are observed.
• Involving residents in decision making.
• Updating Action Plans.
• Running group work sessions for residents.
• Engaging in staff training and development.
• Providing a listening ear.

A member of the Housing Support Team will act as your key worker. You will be notified of your key worker when you are provided with your accommodation. Your key worker will assist you during your stay with us and will be responsible for updating your Action Plan with you and will be your main contact with the Support Team. You will agree together how often you would like to meet. Your key worker will review with you what other support you may feel you need to deal with any issues you have. With your permission they can liaise with other agencies that you may have contact with so you can obtain the best support available.