This article describes the service provided by Look Ahead’s Bayswater Hostel in Westminster for rough sleepers with low levels of mental health problems. Traditionally, these people are excluded from specialist mental health services due to lack of formal diagnosis, difficulties engaging with statutory mental health teams, or drug and alcohol use. Formally a medium support hostel for rough sleepers aged 18-30, Bayswater underwent a major transformation in 2008. The new service offers a safe and tranquil environment for those rough sleepers who don’t typically thrive in general hostel environments due to their increased vulnerability. Bayswater Hostel has adopted an approach called Positive Pathways which shifts emphasis from a customer’s support needs to consider the many different aspects that make up their lives. The support work rests upon 4 key pillars: positive identity; stable relationships; healthy, wealthy and wise; and home and community. The staff work with small groups of 4 or 5 customers to enable them to provide a high level of support, and links have been developed with mental health services. The article also describes how the hostel provides a comfortable environment to avoid abandonment by the customers, and the attempts made by the hostel to tackle stigma and discrimination.
This article describes the service provided by Look Ahead’s Bayswater Hostel in Westminster for rough sleepers with low levels of mental health problems. Traditionally, these people are excluded from specialist mental health services due to lack of formal diagnosis, difficulties engaging with statutory mental health teams, or drug and alcohol use. Formally a medium support hostel for rough sleepers aged 18-30, Bayswater underwent a major transformation in 2008. The new service offers a safe and tranquil environment for those rough sleepers who don’t typically thrive in general hostel environments due to their increased vulnerability. Bayswater Hostel has adopted an approach called Positive Pathways which shifts emphasis from a customer’s support needs to consider the many different aspects that make up their lives. The support work rests upon 4 key pillars: positive identity; stable relationships; healthy, wealthy and wise; and home and community. The staff work with small groups of 4 or 5 customers to enable them to provide a high level of support, and links have been developed with mental health services. The article also describes how the hostel provides a comfortable environment to avoid abandonment by the customers, and the attempts made by the hostel to tackle stigma and discrimination.
Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 1(2), December 2008, pp.19-22.
Publisher:
Emerald
Work underway in the London borough of Islington aims to lesson the risk of fire in the homes of vulnerable people such as those with mental health problems, learning disabilities or problems with alcohol or drugs. A partnership approach helps ensure that a range of community agencies engage with fire safety messages for the benefit of their clients.
Work underway in the London borough of Islington aims to lesson the risk of fire in the homes of vulnerable people such as those with mental health problems, learning disabilities or problems with alcohol or drugs. A partnership approach helps ensure that a range of community agencies engage with fire safety messages for the benefit of their clients.
Subject terms:
housing, joint working, learning disabilities, mental health problems, risk, vulnerable adults, alcohol misuse, drug misuse, fire safety, fire services;
Housing Care and Support, 3(2), June 2000, pp.28-30.
Publisher:
Emerald
Shelter recently published a report, 'From pillar to post: failing to meet the support and housing needs of vulnerable people', which showed just how important it is that agencies work closely together. A survey of Shelter's network of housing aid centres and projects found that housing and social services departments are failing to work together, and the needs of service users are not being met. Argues that guidance to local authorities encouraging departments to work together is not enough; a new duty on local authorities is needed.
Shelter recently published a report, 'From pillar to post: failing to meet the support and housing needs of vulnerable people', which showed just how important it is that agencies work closely together. A survey of Shelter's network of housing aid centres and projects found that housing and social services departments are failing to work together, and the needs of service users are not being met. Argues that guidance to local authorities encouraging departments to work together is not enough; a new duty on local authorities is needed.
Subject terms:
housing, joint working, local authorities, mental health problems, social services, unmet need, vulnerable adults, access to services, assessment;
GREAT BRITAIN. Cabinet Office. Office of the Third Sector, GREAT BRITAIN. Cabinet Office. Social Exclusion Taskforce
Publisher:
Great Britain. Cabinet Office
Publication year:
2010
Pagination:
20p.
Place of publication:
London
The socially excluded adults public service agreement (PSA 16) aims to ensure that the most socially excluded adults are offered the chance to get back on a path to a more successful life, by increasing the proportion of at-risk individuals in settled accommodation and in employment, education or training. PSA 16 focuses on 4 client groups who are particularly vulnerable to multiple forms of disadvantage: care leavers; offenders under probation supervision; adults in contact with secondary mental health services; and adults with moderate to severe learning disabilities. In 2009 the Office of the Third Sector and the Social Exclusion Task Force investigated 4 places where local authorities have used Supporting People funding to help individuals from PSA 16 groups into jobs and homes, to inform understanding of the third sector organisations which provide these services. This publication describes these 4 case studies, sketching the organisational structures in each place and the ways they help PSA 16 groups and giving contact details for each. The case studies are: Norwood in partnership with Redbridge Local Authority working with adults with learning disabilities; Foundation Housing with Leeds City Council working with ex-offenders; Tyneside Cyrenians and Newcastle City Council working with ex-offenders and people with mental health problems; and St Basils and Birmingham City Council working with young people who have been in care.
The socially excluded adults public service agreement (PSA 16) aims to ensure that the most socially excluded adults are offered the chance to get back on a path to a more successful life, by increasing the proportion of at-risk individuals in settled accommodation and in employment, education or training. PSA 16 focuses on 4 client groups who are particularly vulnerable to multiple forms of disadvantage: care leavers; offenders under probation supervision; adults in contact with secondary mental health services; and adults with moderate to severe learning disabilities. In 2009 the Office of the Third Sector and the Social Exclusion Task Force investigated 4 places where local authorities have used Supporting People funding to help individuals from PSA 16 groups into jobs and homes, to inform understanding of the third sector organisations which provide these services. This publication describes these 4 case studies, sketching the organisational structures in each place and the ways they help PSA 16 groups and giving contact details for each. The case studies are: Norwood in partnership with Redbridge Local Authority working with adults with learning disabilities; Foundation Housing with Leeds City Council working with ex-offenders; Tyneside Cyrenians and Newcastle City Council working with ex-offenders and people with mental health problems; and St Basils and Birmingham City Council working with young people who have been in care.
Subject terms:
housing, joint working, learning disabilities, leaving care, local authorities, mental health problems, performance management, social exclusion, training, voluntary organisations, vulnerable adults, case studies, charities, education, employment, ex-offenders;
Housing Care and Support, 12(1), April 2009, pp.6-8.
Publisher:
Emerald
The Social Exclusion Task Force, based in the Cabinet Office, works across government to ensure that the opportunities enjoyed by the vast majority of people in the UK today are extended to those whose lives have been characterised by deprivation and exclusion. The Task Force recognises that much has already been achieved through investment in public services, tax and benefit changes, and the national minimum wage. However, intensive collaborative support is needed for the most vulnerable individuals and families, whose difficulties are complex and persistent. The development of the first public service agreement (PSA) for very vulnerable adults is a major step forward in addressing the needs of some of the most disadvantaged citizens.
The Social Exclusion Task Force, based in the Cabinet Office, works across government to ensure that the opportunities enjoyed by the vast majority of people in the UK today are extended to those whose lives have been characterised by deprivation and exclusion. The Task Force recognises that much has already been achieved through investment in public services, tax and benefit changes, and the national minimum wage. However, intensive collaborative support is needed for the most vulnerable individuals and families, whose difficulties are complex and persistent. The development of the first public service agreement (PSA) for very vulnerable adults is a major step forward in addressing the needs of some of the most disadvantaged citizens.
Subject terms:
joint working, learning disabilities, leaving care, mental health problems, social exclusion, vulnerable adults, access to services, adults, collaboration, ex-offenders, government policy;
This monograph summarises the work and conclusions of an exploration into services supporting adults living in the community who have two or more significant impairments. It found that people with multiple impairments are on the margin of service structures and provision,. No professional group has responsibility for meeting their needs comprehensively. Consequently the support is not available, provision inadequate and funding is poorly negotiated between agencies.
This monograph summarises the work and conclusions of an exploration into services supporting adults living in the community who have two or more significant impairments. It found that people with multiple impairments are on the margin of service structures and provision,. No professional group has responsibility for meeting their needs comprehensively. Consequently the support is not available, provision inadequate and funding is poorly negotiated between agencies.
Subject terms:
interagency cooperation, joint working, learning disabilities, joint financing, joint planning, mental health problems, physical disabilities, quality assurance, social services, social care provision, user participation, vulnerable adults, benefits, direct payments;