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This article first appeared in 'Connect', the magazine of Homelessness Link. Using case studies from our D'n'A project and one of TwoSaints' Day Care centres, it highlights the benefits of working in partnership with other agencies to provide a more holistic service for clients and a more efficient use of funds.

Due South...

Kevin Finnon, Homeless Link's Head of the South, looks at how agencies in his region are working together to support more people.

Ask anyone actively working to support homeless people and they will tell you that a 'one-size-fits-all' policy is doomed to failure. Every individual is unique, with their own set of experiences, challenges and attitudes. This is particularly true of those who are having difficulties with drugs or alcohol. Step by Step, an Aldershot-based charity that provides training and accommodation for young homeless people, is well aware of the negative impact that substance misuse can have on finding safe and suitable housing. Dependence on alcohol and drugs - and the ever present need to source another 'fix' - contributes towards a chaotic lifestyle. Sofa-surfing and sleeping rough often follow, leading to further isolation from mainstream society and the support and resources which could help break the cycle.

Sharing Expertise
From the outset, Step by Step realised that each individual's case presented a unique combination of physical, emotional and psychological issues. It rapidly became clear that, to offer an effective service, they would need expertise across a wide range of disciplines, most of which were outside their remit and resources. At the same time, the Local Health Authority's drugs unit was searching for ways to help those who were outside its normal reach. As these were the very people that Step by Step worked with on a daily basis, the two organisations began to work together, and in December 2002 the D'n'A (Drugs and Alcohol) project was born.

Today the project works in close partnership with the Surrey and Borders NHS Trust and a number of other supportive agencies, including Hampshire Youth Bureau and Phoenix Futures. D'n'A has also developed two way relationships with local councils, housing associations, community health services, and the prison service.

Through these partnerships, the D'n'A project is able to provide flexible, and holistic support, including a recently introduced acupuncture service. Operating from a central location, alongside other Step by Step schemes, means the project is easily accessible to a range of clients. Currently, around 95 people are seen each year and, so far, 87% are assessed as having progressed since their first encounter with D'n'A. These figures clearly indicate that establishing effective partnerships can provide life changing results.

A flexible approach reaches more people
Two Saints Accommodation Resource Centre (ARC), which provides housing related advice and support to young people, agrees that there are many benefits to be had from collaborative working. ARC's partnership with Fareham Borough Council, Gosport Borough Council, and Relate counselling services, has enabled them to offer a flexible package of therapeutic support to young people in the region.

Part of this package includes ARC's family support sessions, which work with young adults who are in dispute with family members and have been asked to leave the family home. ARC invites the young person's family to attend a session with them, mediated by a Relate counsellor, where they can openly discuss their concerns. Whilst the ultimate goal is for the young person to return home, staff are aware of the significance of softer outcomes such as the use of more positive communication between family members. This often acts as a starting point for those attending the sessions to gain a deeper insight into the difficulties, responsibilities and benefits of maintaining a peaceful home.

Web-cam counselling is another way that ARC is able to provide emotional support to young people that may not feel comfortable meeting a counsellor face-to-face. It is hoped that by offering this user-friendly service online, ARC will reach a wider audience and benefit more young people in the long run.

All this is possible because ARC has established relationships with complementary services, such as Relate, to deliver support that goes beyond providing accommodation alone.

How does this apply to day centres?
Two Saints has operated a day centre in Southampton since 1975. The centre provides a safe and welcoming environment where homeless people can access basic services including showers, laundry facilities, health care and hot food. The day centre also acts as a sign posting service to other agencies, and offers educational opportunities through their learning project.

However, providing an effective service requires financial support and, unlike accommodation-based services, day centres do not readily have the opportunity to generate their own revenue. Whilst a significant proportion of Two Saints Day Centre's funding is provided through social services grant funding and charitable donations, a partnership agreement with the Homeless Health Care Team has enabled them to cross-subsidise. By renting out clinical space to the Homeless Health Care Team, TwoSaints Day Centre now has an on site primary health care service - a valuable resource to their clients that also generates additional revenue.

In addition, Two Saints has secured Supporting People funding for their floating support services, and additional monies means they are now able to employ an accommodation worker. The day centre's management of these services and rental of office space has helped to finance some of their operating costs and, more importantly, enhanced the range of support available to homeless people on one site.

Their successful funding application to the Places of Change Programme (PCP), to redevelop the day centre, will enable them to rent out more space to other community based services. Besides providing an additional revenue stream, these plans echo the centre's philosophy to provide flexible and tailored support that enables homeless people to make real changes to their lives.

Quality and sustainability are the key ingredients to creating a truly effective, joined-up package of support. Partnership working is expected by Supporting People teams and with limited funding available, organisations need to work as part of a broader strategy to deliver a more connected programme of services. The collaborative work of Step by Step for the D'n'A project and by TwoSaints emphasises that making the effort to establish partnerships can provide long term benefits to both the people that are providing and receiving services.

©2009 Step by Step Partnership Ltd   :   Reg. Charity No. 900308    :   Company No. 2431825