The African Caribbean Community Initiative (ACCI) is based in Wolverhampton and offers mental health support for African Caribbean adults. It was set up in response to the concern among Wolverhampton’s black community about the disproportionate number of African Caribbean people at risk of experiencing mental health problems. The service is led by a dedicated board of trustees with backgrounds in social work, housing, education, nursing and business management. ACCI is a partner of the Wolverhampton Crisis Care Concordat.
The African Caribbean Community Initiative (ACCI) is based in Wolverhampton and offers mental health support for African Caribbean adults. It was set up in response to the concern among Wolverhampton’s black community about the disproportionate number of African Caribbean people at risk of experiencing mental health problems. The service is led by a dedicated board of trustees with backgrounds in social work, housing, education, nursing and business management. ACCI is a partner of the Wolverhampton Crisis Care Concordat.
The service provides support to people using adult mental health, forensic and learning disabilities services, as well as supporting carers. It is run by experienced staff who support, encourage and motivate people throughout their crisis and their recovery. As well as mental health support to people in crisis, outreach support helps people cope with daily activities including domestic, budget and life skills. Housing support and advice is available, and the service works with housing providers to ensure that the safety, stability and wellbeing of African Caribbean adults is met. The service also has the Omari Supported Housing Scheme, which provides accommodation across four sites in Wolverhampton. There are 23 supported housing units available for people who may need substance use services, intensive support, shared housing and independent living accommodation. Omari provides support that addresses the psychological, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural needs of the people using the service.
The ACCI provide a wide range of activities for members, which are recovery-focused and will help to develop their living skills. They are mostly selected by the people using the services. Some activities are led by people who currently use the services. There is also provision for support groups and placement and volunteering opportunities. ACCI are able to rehabilitate people back into the community and thereby reduce the need for inpatient care.
The ACCI works closely with statutory partners and agencies such as GPs, housing providers, social workers, probation workers and support groups. People who use the ACCI service are involved in planning service delivery and have representation on the board of trustees. A ‘service user evaluation’ is undertaken on an annual basis. The service provides access to interpreters from within the community, within a 4- to 5-hour target, and also works closely with the local Refugee and Migrant Centre to provide access to speakers of different languages where needed. The service also provides advocates from independent, external sources who can provide additional support to people who request this.
