P82 Health and Homelessness – Building an Asset Based Network in the North East and North Cumbria

Background

NHS and local authority policy and planning is increasingly recognising issues associated with insecure housing and homelessness. However, people experiencing homelessness often have multiple and complex needs that are difficult to meet and are often poorly served by fragmented and reactive models of practice that currently operate across the UK. This project will work with Experts by Experience (EbE) in homelessness to develop more integrated ways of working. Using the lens of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), these approaches will be embedded in third sector, statutory organisations, and decision making bodies to improve health and reduce disparities in this group.

Methods

This project supports the development of a collaborative network across North East and North Cumbria to move away from top-down needs-based approaches, focussing instead on mobilisation of community assets and strengths, with equal power shared with EbE to foster collective action. The project employs three key mechanisms to engage with EbEs as equal partners, which go beyond traditional PICE payments: a) increased access to digital resources; b) the disposal of an ‘innovation budget’ that they will use to improve one aspect of the service they receive and c) access to an accredited course on peer and participatory research. A series of workshops with stakeholders across the region, co-led by EBEs, will be held to explore ways to better integrate services. In addition, a virtual directory will be created using a strategy of snowballing to map relevant services (e.g. mental health, addiction, housing, primary care, domestic abuse, etc).

Results

Following engagement with EbE during the first workshop session we developed initial themes based on factors which impacted their ability to successfully access and be treated with sufficient care and respect by the services they need. These themes are trust/stigma/shame, means by which systems increase isolation and exacerbate problems, and the importance of holistic treatment and collaborative working. The themes developed will inform the future workshops which will focus on the further development of an online network of organisations, seeking to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness more readily and holistically.

Conclusion

Through identifying, engaging with and mobilising the assets and strengths already present within the wider community, this project will enhance access to more joined up health and social care for people experiencing homelessness in the North East and North Cumbria.