Bucks Safe Haven is expanding its service provision and extending the opening hours to improve support for people in mental health crisis.
Provided initially in a partnership by Bucks Mind and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, the service is now joined by new partners Connection Support, Citizens Advice Buckinghamshire and The Oasis Partnership. The new partnership offers mental health support that may be catered through advice around employment, housing, debt or substance misuse.
The upgraded service went live on Sunday, August 1, and operates in High Wycombe seven days a week and in Aylesbury four days a week, from 6pm to midnight.
Service change manager Umar Ansari said:
“We are pleased to expand the Safe Haven service by extending operational hours in High Wycombe to a seven days a week as well as collaborating with three new delivery partners to offer broader, longer term support for users across Buckinghamshire.
“Credit goes to all colleagues and partners who have worked efficiently, especially during Covid, to put in place the infrastructure and resource within a short timeframe to ensure a successful service launch. We hope the new offer goes a long way in providing quality mental health support for all service users.”
How it works
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Bucks Safe Haven offers a safe and supportive alternative to A&E for adults (aged 18+) living in Bucks who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Safe Haven allows you to talk openly about how you are feeling and to build trusting relationships with supportive members of staff, without the fear of being judged. They work with you in a very empathetic and genuine way, no matter what the crisis is.
Safe Haven will help you to understand where to go for help in the local community, but most importantly to feel safer and create safety plans if you are struggling to keep yourself safe due to thoughts of self-harm or of ending your life.
The service offers face-to-face groups with the option of a 1-to-1 discussion with a trained crisis support worker.
There are also 30-minute telephone or video support calls for people who cannot access the service face-to-face.
How to access the service
The Bucks Safe Haven service is operating in Buckinghamshire from 6pm to midnight, in the following locations:
High Wycombe
Open 7 nights a week, 6pm to midnight
Address: 260 Desborough Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2QR
Please call: 01494 218098
Aylesbury
Open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 6pm to midnight
Address: Peach Tree House, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bierton Road, Sapphire Way, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1EG
Please call: 01296 453017
Please note, Safe Haven will ask for some brief contact details during the first call.
Safe Haven would encourage self-referrals where possible. However, if you are a professional and would like to make a referral into the service, please email buckssafehaven@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.
Please note, the service email address is accessed from 6pm – midnight daily and we will aim to contact the individual on the day they are referred to us.
Safe Haven is not a drop-in service.
If you are an adult in crisis in Buckinghamshire please call Bucks Safe Haven first to see if they can hold a place for you. There is no limit to how many nights you can call us, although we would only be able to offer one call per evening.
Published: 3 August 2021