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HerStory House is committed to empowering women with the skills to thrive in a community of their choosing, maintain independence, and build hope for a healthy future. Our specialist high-support female-only residential service is designed for women likely to satisfy the diagnosis of personality disorder who are at risk of entering or re-entering the Criminal Justice System.
The service provides safe and enabling accommodation within a psychologically informed environment and facilitates the eventual move to fully independent living in the community. A specialist HUB for women living in the community provides additional specialist support to ensure they remain engaged with services and obtain support to live independently and gain access to employment.
HerStory House is a four-bed service that delivers a women-centred approach and a holistic support package in a safe female-only environment. We work flexibly, ensuring tailored, consistent and reliable support whilst promoting autonomy and choice.
Service residents are supported daily by forensic recovery practitioners to develop living skills and find positive links within the community. Weekly Support Worker sessions enable residents to create personal action plans where they can focus on their goals and needs. A Well-Being Hub offers therapeutic programmes and activities to enable service residents and other women screened into the pathway to engage with support services, socialise, learn new skills and create positive and healthy relationships.
Alongside our accommodation service, we also run the HerStory Hub, a safe and welcoming space for women on the OPD Pathway. It’s a place where women can:
The Hub runs every Monday on a drop-in basis and is separate from any accommodation services. It’s delivered by OPD Housing, Accommodation & Support Services (HASS) in partnership with Bluebird, NHS, and Probation colleagues, though we lead the way. Women can attend if referred by probation practitioners through the regular OPD London referral form.
This collaborative approach ensures that women have access to a supportive community and resources that help them thrive beyond residential care.
Adult women screened into the OPD Pathway with have a level 2 or 3 formulation. Currently residing in a prison, secure hospital or Approved Premises (or any other premises approved by Offender Managers) displaying risks and complex needs suggesting a need for a high level of specialist support to develop independent living skills, who previously struggled, or their time in secure care suggests they would struggle, to live independently in the community, would benefit from a psychologically informed approach and access to an individualised programme to support their integrations into the community. Motivated to engage with the residential service, activities and the support offered by the team. Minimum 12 months remaining on their licence.
All referrals come through the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. We prioritise referrals based on individual needs and specific criteria. referrals.hsh@penrose.org.uk
Telephone : 02036689270
Email : referrals.hsh@penrose.cjsm.net
