Scrutton Close is part of Response’s Headington Campus. It offers a peaceful, green setting with direct links to the vibrant local community of Headington, Oxford.
Scrutton Close strikes a perfect balance between privacy and peace, with green spaces and plenty of room for activities and gardening. The service provides safe, supportive accommodation for people taking their first steps towards independent living after intensive support. Staff are available throughout the day and overnight, offering personalised recovery planning and practical support. With individual apartments centred around a communal garden, Scrutton Close fosters connection, confidence and stability.
Service Information
Scrutton Close offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals taking their first steps towards independent living after intensive services. The service is designed to help people build confidence, regain stability, and move forward in their recovery within a welcoming, home-like environment. Through daily support and recovery planning, residents gain the skills needed to manage their own lives while still having access to staff support when needed.
Residents enjoy a variety of activities designed to empower individuals, as well as build independence and confidence for the future.
Activities include:
- Day trips.
- Music groups.
- Exercise sessions.
- Movie nights, Quiz/games nights.
- Gardening sessions
Support includes:
- Supporting residents around meaningful activity.
- Encouragement and support to better manage their Mental Health.
- One to one support in all areas with a named worker.
- Support to learn life skills.
- Meal Preparation Guidance
- Support around managing their money (if applicable).
- Individualised Support Plans.
- Recovery Programmes
- Medication Management Support
Scrutton Close has beds for 15 individuals. The service is made up of 15 one-bedroom apartments, all situated around private communal gardening space. The self-contained apartments are well lit, spacious, and all face the garden, creating a peaceful, connected environment. A large kitchen is used to support meal preparation and enable people to develop cooking skills. The design encourages independence, while communal areas and green spaces provide opportunities for social engagement, gardening, and outdoor activities.
Scrutton Close has staff on shift throughout the waking hours to manage the service and offer recovery planning and support every day of the year. Staff sleep in at the service overnight and can be reached if needed. Support with medication management and daily living skills are core to recovery planning. Our dedicated team ensures residents have access to the guidance and care they need, while promoting independence and skill-building.
A purpose-built activity centre has opened at our Scrutton Close site in Headington, Oxford on 13th May 2026, providing a dedicated communal space for adults living with serious mental illness and complex needs.
Funded by a generous donation from an anonymous major donor and the G W Bartington Will Trust, the centre was created in response to a clear need for a welcoming communal environment where residents can connect, socialise, and take part in meaningful group activities. Shared spaces play an important role in mental health recovery, helping people to build confidence, develop social skills, and regain independence in everyday life.
What the centre offers
The activity centre hosts a wide range of structured and informal activities designed to support residents’ mental, emotional and social wellbeing, including:
- Art, music and craft sessions
- Gardening and outdoor activities
- Exercise and wellbeing sessions
- Budgeting and independent living workshops
- Social groups and informal gatherings
- Digital inclusion support, helping residents build confidence using technology, online services and the internet
- Film nights
Many residents have spent time in hospital settings and may need support to rebuild everyday skills and confidence at their own pace. The centre provides a safe and supportive environment to do this.
The impact
Scrutton Close already provides tailored support including daily living skills, medication management and mental health care. The addition of the activity centre strengthens this offer by creating more opportunities for connection, learning and routine.
The aim is to support residents to build confidence, increase independence and feel a greater sense of belonging as they move forward in their recovery.
Referrals Process
To apply for supported housing at Scrutton Close, please contact referrals@response.org.uk and we will connect you with the appropriate service manager who can help you with your application.
Sam's Journey at Scrutton Close
"Patience and perseverance were key in supporting Sam, allowing him time to adjust to small changes, learn new skills and put them into practice."
Sam
FAQs
Adults in need of a safe and supportive environment to focus on their recovery, whilst still benefitting from being situated in a community setting. Individuals are supported to engage in meaningful recovery planning while developing the life skills needed for greater independence.
The Scrutton Close team will aim to enable an individual to move on to more independent living arrangements within two years, but there is flexibility depending on the needs of the individual.
Referrals and applications to this service will be made directly to the service management team, however any enquires regarding placements at Scrutton Close can also be sent to referrals@response.org.uk
All meal preparation is planned and managed by both individuals living at the service and the staff team. All individual dietary requirements can be supported and the people we support are encouraged to develop a meal plan that is suitable to their cultural and nutritional needs.
Due to the communal living arrangements at Scrutton Close, pets for individuals cannot be accepted on referral.
WiFi is available throughout the service and is paid for collectively by all of the individuals being supported, meaning there is only a small charge per person.
Smoking in the building or within individual living spaces is not permitted. Response is committed to creating a smoke free environment in all of its services, for both staff and the people we support, to enjoy clean air when indoors. There are however external smoking areas that can be used.