Personalised healthcare service launched for rough sleepers

A new service offering supported accommodation with personalised healthcare to people who have previously been rough sleeping, is being launched in West Suffolk.

People who have been homeless and rough sleeping are, for a variety of reasons normally in much poorer health than those who have a home.

West Suffolk Council has already invested in extra accommodation as well as securing funds from the government’s Next Steps Accommodation Programme (NSAP) for longer term accommodation for people with medium to high support needs.

Now, using £30,000 of funding secured for one year from West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, the council will be working with clinicians from the Marginalised Vulnerable Adult (MVA) service to provide personalised healthcare to people who have previously been rough sleeping.

West Suffolk Council employs a rough sleeper support team with mental health and substance misuse specialists. The MVA service will support people that the council has helped accommodate through the NSAP funding and who have been identified as vulnerable and with additional health needs.

The aim is to tailor support around the individual and provide whatever physical or mental health services they need. It forms part of wider work of the council designed to improve outcomes for individuals and stop the pattern of homelessness from reoccurring.

Sara Mildmay-White, Cabinet member for Housing at West Suffolk Council, said: “We have been working for a number of years to reduce rough sleeping in West Suffolk, investing in as well as securing government funds for different types of accommodation and support needs. Our whole approach is about helping people rebuild their lives. This initiative to provide personalised healthcare is very much part of that ethos and we are delighted to be working in partnership with the MVA and CCG to offer this new service.”

Mark Hayes, operations manager for the MVA service, said: “We are delighted to be working with West Suffolk Council to offer this personalised healthcare service to people who are homeless and have previously been rough sleeping. Our focus will be on tailoring this support around each individual’s needs. Our aim is to bring real benefits to people in the area who were previously sleeping rough, as part of the support already in place, to help them access healthcare services and move forward in rebuilding their lives.”

Kate Vaughton, chief officer, NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, added: “Homeless people have much poorer physical and mental health than people who have a permanent home. That’s why this initiative is so important. It’s really positive too that we are able to tackle this issue in partnership with West Suffolk Council, as it strengthens the reach of the service so it can deliver and help people improve their lives.”

Despite the challenges around Covid-19, West Suffolk Council has continued to reduce rough sleeping through accommodation and support.

In September 2018, when the rough sleeper support team was first set up, there were 36 rough sleepers in West Suffolk. Now there are currently five people, all of whom have declined offers of accommodation.

The figure can change as people leave or accept accommodation and the council continues to try to encourage those people who are still rough sleeping to take up the support and accommodation on offer. Anyone who sees someone they suspect is rough sleeping is asked to report it to the council team via www.streetlink.org.uk