A Message from Raymond, CEO
In January and February of this year, I sat down with representatives from ten local authorities. Different areas with different pressures, but the same message, almost word for word.
They need better forensic pathways. They need smoother pathways from hospital to home. They need flexible support that is tailored to people rather than fitting them into a box. And increasingly, they’re raising the same urgent concern: people on the autism spectrum are stuck in hospitals or unsuitable placements, with no clear route out.
I left those conversations energised, not because the problems are new (they aren’t), but because what local authorities are asking for maps almost exactly into what Bridge has been building, proving, and expanding for the past several years.
This year, we’re ready to scale it.
I want to be transparent about what we’re planning and why. We’re not announcing this as a fait accompli. Services of this kind take careful planning, the right housing partners, and the right people.
But our direction is clear, and I believe the people we work with – commissioners, clinicians, families, and the clients themselves – deserve to know where we’re heading.
Expanding Tilt: Forensic Services
Tilt is one of Bridge’s proudest achievements. Over five years, our reoffending rate has remained at just 1.58% per year. More than 64% of Tilt residents have moved on to independent or less supported accommodation. The cost saving compared to secure hospital placement can reach £110,000 per person, per year.
Those numbers speak for themselves. But more than the numbers, I’ve seen what Tilt does for people. It gives them structure, safety, and, critically, a genuine path forward. Not just containment, but progression.
The demand is undeniable. Forensic mental health services remain one of the most under-resourced parts of the care system. Secure hospital placements cost the NHS and local authorities enormous amounts of money, and far too many people remain in those settings far longer than is clinically necessary, not because they need to be there, but because there is nowhere else suitable to go.
We intend to change that by expanding Tilt’s capacity. We are in active planning and discussion with housing and clinical partners, and we will share more on locations and timelines as they are confirmed.
Scaling Bridge Back Home
Bridge Back Home (BBH) was built on the simple but powerful idea that if we can wrap the right support around someone before, during, and after a crisis, we can often prevent hospital admission altogether or significantly shorten it when it does happen.
Integrated with the Oxleas Clinical Home Treatment Team in Greenwich, BBH combines practical support with emotional and community connection. We help clients make their homes safe and habitable. We assist with finances and benefits. We link people to community services, recovery resources, and peer networks. We work with families, and we help people get back to work.
The results have been consistent:
- Fewer inappropriate admissions
- Shorter inpatient stays
- Better recovery outcomes for clients.
The economic case for commissioners is equally compelling.
What local authorities told me this year confirmed what our data already shows… the hospital-to-home model works, and there is a real need to see it operate in more areas. We will be expanding BBH, bringing its flexible, person-centred approach to new regions in partnership with local NHS and community organisations.
A New Service: ASD Supported Living
Across those ten conversations with local authorities, the same concern came up again and again: autistic adults are stuck in hospitals, in mental health wards, in learning disability settings that simply weren’t designed for them. People who aren’t there because they need acute clinical care but because there is nowhere else. There’s no supported living environment that truly understands how to meet their needs.
This crisis doesn’t make headlines, but the human cost is significant. Inappropriate placements are distressing for individuals, difficult for families, and expensive for the public purse.
Bridge is developing a new ASD-specific supported living service. It will be built on the principles that have made our other services work:
- genuine person-centred planning
- skilled and well-trained staff
- flexible support
- a clear pathway toward greater independence.
We are currently in the planning stages — working through housing requirements, staffing models, and clinical partnerships. We don’t want to rush this. Getting it right matters more than getting it fast, but we are committed to it, and we will provide updates as the service takes shape.
If you are a local authority, commissioner, or NHS trust with urgent need in this area, we would welcome an early conversation.
Why Now?
We have grown steadily and incrementally for six years. We’ve never expanded just for the sake of it. Growth, for us, has always meant showing that we can deliver quality in a new area before moving to the next.
What’s changed in 2026 is the alignment. The services that commissioners need most right now are the services we are best placed to provide. The data we’ve gathered, the pathways we’ve built, and the teams we’ve trained all point in the same direction.
We believe people with long-term mental health conditions, with forensic histories, and on the autism spectrum deserve services that genuinely support their recovery and their independence. That belief hasn’t changed. What’s growing is our ability to act on it.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey so far… our staff, our clinical partners, our commissioners, and most of all our clients.
Raymond
Chief Executive Officer, Bridge Support
March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the expanded Tilt service be available?
We are currently in active planning and partnership discussions. We will announce confirmed locations and timelines as soon as they are ready. If you have specific pressures or placements you are managing now, please contact us, as early conversations help us plan effectively.
Q: Will Bridge Back Home expand to areas outside of Greenwich?
Yes. We are exploring expansion of the BBH model to other areas where NHS and local authority partners are looking for a hospital-to-home solution. The model is designed to integrate with local clinical teams, so each expansion is a genuine partnership rather than a replication. Get in touch to discuss your area.
Q: What will the new ASD service look like? Who is it for?
Our new service will focus on autistic adults, particularly those currently in hospital or other unsuitable placements who would benefit from specialist supported living. Support will be tailored to individual sensory, communication, and social needs, with a clear focus on building skills and reducing reliance on intensive services over time. We are currently finalising the model and will share full details in due course.
Q: How do I commission a Bridge service?
We welcome approaches through the standard tendering process, but we are equally happy to discuss spot contracting or bespoke arrangements. You can call us on 020 8298 9677, email us directly, or use the contact form on our website. We are responsive, and we know commissioners often need to move quickly.
How can I find out more?
The best first step is a conversation. Visit here or call us on 020 8298 9677. We are always happy to talk through how we can help.
