Ensuring that offenders with mental health problems have a safe and stable home is a key part of their recovery and rehabilitation. Noting the current changing policy context and public spending pressures, this briefing paper examines and discusses homelessness, mental health and offending. It covers stable accommodation and mental health, stable accommodation and offending, pathways into stable accommodation, the role of local authorities, the voluntary sector, the supporting people programme, the criminal justice system, ex-service personnel, housing support for people with multiple needs, welfare reform, the localism agenda, the homelessness duty, spending pressures, cross government working, and outcomes and recovery. It concludes that instability in housing appears to be linked to both poor mental health and offending, that offenders with mental health problems can become trapped in a cycle of offending and homelessness, and that timely access to appropriate housing support could be an important factor in breaking this cycle. It makes recommendations about how people particularly vulnerable to homelessness could be better supported in order to improve outcomes for individuals and their community.
Ensuring that offenders with mental health problems have a safe and stable home is a key part of their recovery and rehabilitation. Noting the current changing policy context and public spending pressures, this briefing paper examines and discusses homelessness, mental health and offending. It covers stable accommodation and mental health, stable accommodation and offending, pathways into stable accommodation, the role of local authorities, the voluntary sector, the supporting people programme, the criminal justice system, ex-service personnel, housing support for people with multiple needs, welfare reform, the localism agenda, the homelessness duty, spending pressures, cross government working, and outcomes and recovery. It concludes that instability in housing appears to be linked to both poor mental health and offending, that offenders with mental health problems can become trapped in a cycle of offending and homelessness, and that timely access to appropriate housing support could be an important factor in breaking this cycle. It makes recommendations about how people particularly vulnerable to homelessness could be better supported in order to improve outcomes for individuals and their community.
Subject terms:
homelessness, housing, local authorities, mental health problems, offenders, government policy;
People Place and Policy Online, 2(1), 2008, Online only
Publisher:
Sheffield Hallam University
Place of publication:
Sheffield
This paper looks at the way decisions are made by local authorities under Housing Act 1996, Part 7, in relation to single homeless people who claim to be vulnerable due to mental health problems. The Act provides no definition of vulnerability, and there has been a plethora of cases which have examined its meaning. Through consideration of reported court cases the paper shows how local authorities have tried to limit their duties to those with mental health problems and how the courts have generally been willing to uphold such an approach. It then considers how authorities use medical evidence in making these decisions and in particular the role of the independent firm NowMedical.
This paper looks at the way decisions are made by local authorities under Housing Act 1996, Part 7, in relation to single homeless people who claim to be vulnerable due to mental health problems. The Act provides no definition of vulnerability, and there has been a plethora of cases which have examined its meaning. Through consideration of reported court cases the paper shows how local authorities have tried to limit their duties to those with mental health problems and how the courts have generally been willing to uphold such an approach. It then considers how authorities use medical evidence in making these decisions and in particular the role of the independent firm NowMedical.
Subject terms:
homelessness, local authorities, mental health problems, single homeless people, decision making, duty of care;
Drawing on evidence from people with a history of rough sleeping and from services and commissioners across England, this report makes the case for developing effective specialist homeless mental health services for rough sleepers. A total of 248 Freedom of Information requests were sent to local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in areas known to have 10 or more people sleeping rough each night. The results found that over two thirds (68 per cent) of these areas fail to commission specialist mental health services. The data found that specialist mental health services for people sleeping rough were more often commissioned by CCGs than local authorities, and that level and type of service varied. Examples of services identified are included. In-depth interviews conducted with 21 people with a history of rough sleeping and mental health problems found that existing mental health problems were made much worse by sleeping rough, and that rough sleeping also made it more difficult to access mental health services. Five principles are identified to inform how services working with people sleeping rough with a mental health problem should be delivered. These are for services to be: accessible, attentive, understanding, caring and persistent. The report makes recommendations for people delivering services, national and local government, commissioners and health professionals.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Drawing on evidence from people with a history of rough sleeping and from services and commissioners across England, this report makes the case for developing effective specialist homeless mental health services for rough sleepers. A total of 248 Freedom of Information requests were sent to local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in areas known to have 10 or more people sleeping rough each night. The results found that over two thirds (68 per cent) of these areas fail to commission specialist mental health services. The data found that specialist mental health services for people sleeping rough were more often commissioned by CCGs than local authorities, and that level and type of service varied. Examples of services identified are included. In-depth interviews conducted with 21 people with a history of rough sleeping and mental health problems found that existing mental health problems were made much worse by sleeping rough, and that rough sleeping also made it more difficult to access mental health services. Five principles are identified to inform how services working with people sleeping rough with a mental health problem should be delivered. These are for services to be: accessible, attentive, understanding, caring and persistent. The report makes recommendations for people delivering services, national and local government, commissioners and health professionals.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
rough sleepers, homelessness, mental health services, mental health problems, user views, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups, access to services;
While recognition of the importance of the mental health of young people is improving, access to services largely relies on a degree of stability, such as a permanent address or a regular school. But what about the less rooted?. An innovative mental health project in the East Midlands is engaging young people who are homeless, have offended or who are looked after, and has become a beacon NHS service.
While recognition of the importance of the mental health of young people is improving, access to services largely relies on a degree of stability, such as a permanent address or a regular school. But what about the less rooted?. An innovative mental health project in the East Midlands is engaging young people who are homeless, have offended or who are looked after, and has become a beacon NHS service.
Subject terms:
homeless people, homelessness, local authorities, mental health problems, NHS, quality assurance, social worker-service user relationships, young people, access to services;
The Mental Health Foundation estimates there are up to 20,000 regular street drinkers in towns across the UK. For many of the street drinkers inadequate housing, poverty, and poor mental health are related to the root causes of their drinking. However, because many of them do not fall under categories such as homeless, they are often ignored by service providers. Investigates why this is the case.
The Mental Health Foundation estimates there are up to 20,000 regular street drinkers in towns across the UK. For many of the street drinkers inadequate housing, poverty, and poor mental health are related to the root causes of their drinking. However, because many of them do not fall under categories such as homeless, they are often ignored by service providers. Investigates why this is the case.
Subject terms:
homelessness, local authorities, mental health problems, needs, policy, poverty, social care provision, alcohol misuse;
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 21(4), 1999, pp.327-337.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
This article analyses whether the failures in community care can be derived from failures in the provision of housing owing to the underestimation of its role in the community care process. Asks whether community care overlooked the basic housing needs of discharged patients rendering impossible any effective benefits which could have been achieved from the community care policy and whether the law relating to housing rights failed to ensure an adequate framework for care in the community, thereby exacerbating the problems faced by released psychiatric patients.
This article analyses whether the failures in community care can be derived from failures in the provision of housing owing to the underestimation of its role in the community care process. Asks whether community care overlooked the basic housing needs of discharged patients rendering impossible any effective benefits which could have been achieved from the community care policy and whether the law relating to housing rights failed to ensure an adequate framework for care in the community, thereby exacerbating the problems faced by released psychiatric patients.
Subject terms:
homelessness, housing, law, local authorities, mental health problems, needs, hospital discharge, severe mental health problems, social care provision, community care;
The report of the Mapping the Maze project, set up to map specialist support available for women affected by substance use, mental ill-health, homelessness and offending and highlight gaps in provision. The report also provides a model of good practice for working with women affected by substance use, mental ill-health, homelessness and offending. The model has four broad components: organisational ethos, safe and enabling environment, approach to working and organisational practice: It was developed through the results a literature review, consultation with women accessing services and consultation with professionals who deliver or campaign for specialist interventions for women. Key findings from the study include: the belief amongst women that specialist women’s services are the best way to meet their needs, that good services are often about the culture of the service and the staff rather than any one specific element of service design, and that specialist services for women experiencing disadvantage are under-resourced. Recommendations from the project for government, commissioners and service providers are set out in the final section. These include the need for a cross-government approach and funding stream for women experiencing multiple disadvantage and joined-up funding across local areas to deliver improved support for women experiencing multiple disadvantage.
(Edited publisher abstract)
The report of the Mapping the Maze project, set up to map specialist support available for women affected by substance use, mental ill-health, homelessness and offending and highlight gaps in provision. The report also provides a model of good practice for working with women affected by substance use, mental ill-health, homelessness and offending. The model has four broad components: organisational ethos, safe and enabling environment, approach to working and organisational practice: It was developed through the results a literature review, consultation with women accessing services and consultation with professionals who deliver or campaign for specialist interventions for women. Key findings from the study include: the belief amongst women that specialist women’s services are the best way to meet their needs, that good services are often about the culture of the service and the staff rather than any one specific element of service design, and that specialist services for women experiencing disadvantage are under-resourced. Recommendations from the project for government, commissioners and service providers are set out in the final section. These include the need for a cross-government approach and funding stream for women experiencing multiple disadvantage and joined-up funding across local areas to deliver improved support for women experiencing multiple disadvantage.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
women, substance misuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, complex needs, mental health problems, homelessness, service provision, criminal justice, good practice, access to services, offenders, case studies, local authorities, commissioning, clinical commissioning groups;
This report explores the different ways that local authorities support mental health and wellbeing in communities, using their statutory duties and non-statutory duties. It looks at what councils can do to create mentally well places and highlights their role in the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems, along with the voluntary and community sector. The report looks how council services can contribute to mental wellbeing in the following areas: adult social care; public health; child and adolescent mental health; housing and homelessness; community safety; parks and green spaces; and culture and leisure services. It includes short case studies of local authority initiatives and links to additional resources. It also highlights the need to re-focus mental health policy away from medicalisation and mental ill health to prevention, early intervention and mental wellness.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report explores the different ways that local authorities support mental health and wellbeing in communities, using their statutory duties and non-statutory duties. It looks at what councils can do to create mentally well places and highlights their role in the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems, along with the voluntary and community sector. The report looks how council services can contribute to mental wellbeing in the following areas: adult social care; public health; child and adolescent mental health; housing and homelessness; community safety; parks and green spaces; and culture and leisure services. It includes short case studies of local authority initiatives and links to additional resources. It also highlights the need to re-focus mental health policy away from medicalisation and mental ill health to prevention, early intervention and mental wellness.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
adult social care, public health, housing, leisure, local authorities, homelessness, case studies, ecotherapy, wellbeing, mental health problems, mental health, communities, environment, prevention;
The aim of this thematic review is to offer information and guidance on the commissioning and provision of mental health services to people who are homeless. While the review is mainly addressed to NHS managers, much of the material relates to the social services and housing departments of local authorities. The main thrust of this report is on joint working. The authors of the review are aware that homelessness on its own, or in association with mental health problems, is not always recognised as a major issue by health and social services managers, and that the particular needs of a highly vulnerable group of people may, therefore, remain unmet. This report examines the characteristics of the homeless population and identifies the specific challenges that it presents both to managers, in their development of strategy for commissioning, and to front-line providers in services. This report identifies examples of good practice across England and Wales.
The aim of this thematic review is to offer information and guidance on the commissioning and provision of mental health services to people who are homeless. While the review is mainly addressed to NHS managers, much of the material relates to the social services and housing departments of local authorities. The main thrust of this report is on joint working. The authors of the review are aware that homelessness on its own, or in association with mental health problems, is not always recognised as a major issue by health and social services managers, and that the particular needs of a highly vulnerable group of people may, therefore, remain unmet. This report examines the characteristics of the homeless population and identifies the specific challenges that it presents both to managers, in their development of strategy for commissioning, and to front-line providers in services. This report identifies examples of good practice across England and Wales.
Subject terms:
homeless people, homelessness, information management, interagency cooperation, joint commissioning, local authorities, mental health problems, mental health services, multidisciplinary services, purchaser-provider split, quality assurance, social policy, social care provision, standards, commissioning, contracts, health care;