Bilberry Lodge, our brand-new adult mental health residential service in Rishton, is set to open its doors soon. The 6-bed service will provide a safe, supportive environment where residents can grow in confidence and develop the skills they need to live more independently.

Our dedicated team at Bilberry Lodge will include Managers, Mental Health Nurses, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and Support Workers. The team will offer comprehensive care for adults with a range of (but not limited to) complex conditions, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

As part of the opening of the service, Jade*, who will be the very first resident to move into Bilberry Lodge, has played a key role in shaping how we recruit our new team members. Working closely with Regional Operations Manager, Rebecca Lawson, Jade developed a set of interview questions designed to uncover the values, attitudes, and compassion of prospective Support Workers.

The idea originated during a conversation at Oswald House, our specialist mental health residential service for adults in Lancashire, where Jade currently resides.

Rebecca suggested that Jade, drawing on her lived experience, might want to design the questions herself. She agreed and independently produced five thought-provoking questions. Each was carefully chosen, with Jade providing a clear explanation of what every question reveals about the person being interviewed.

But Jade’s contribution didn’t stop there. She also joined Rebecca in the interview process itself, keen to help select Support Workers based on their values, perception of people’s strengths and attitudes towards mental health, as well as sharing her belief in recognising each resident as a unique individual. So far, she has attended four interviews, playing a vital role in selecting the team that will support her and future residents at Bilberry Lodge.

Reflecting on this co-production approach, Rebecca said:

“Jade’s interview questions blew me away; it was clear to see that she had put a lot of time and thought into developing them. I found the whole process humbling as a professional; it was fantastic to gain valuable insights from a resident’s point of view, not just from a professional standpoint.

Working with Jade on the interview questions and interview process has reiterated to me that the people we support are and must always be treated as individual people, with their own strengths, talents, values and life experiences to be appreciated and valued wholeheartedly.”

Find out more about Bilberry Lodge HERE.

*Name has been changed to protect her identity.