HLG Services - Mental Health Support Team for Homeless People (MHST)
We view mental health in its broadest sense and believe that everybody can experience mental health difficulties at some point in their lives. We work with people who have difficulties coping, feel anxious, are low in mood, are self harming to help cope, have difficulties with drugs and alcohol as well as people who may have a mental illness diagnosis.
We accept self referrals - please come to one of our drop ins or contact the MHST duty worker on (0115) 9565313.
Target Group
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Single homeless people;
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Aged 16 -65 years old;
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People not currently receiving a service from statutory mental health services, e.g. Community Mental Health Teams, Dual Diagnosis Team, Early Intervention in Psychosis Team.
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People experiencing mental health difficulties, including difficulties with drugs and alcohol;
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People who may reluctant or unable to access mainstream services.
How to make Referrals to MHST
Resource and Homelessness/Training
Duty Worker
Open Sessions
What we do:
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Provide assessments, social care and support to homeless people with a mental health difficulty, in particular those people rough sleeping and using emergency provision.
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Extend channels of communication between statutory and non-statutory agencies, to share knowledge and experience, thereby increasing access to appropriate advice and support services for homeless people with a mental health difficulty. This is done in a variety of ways including chairing multi agency meetings.
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Identify, monitor and evaluate gaps in service provision and feed back information to the appropriate authorities/services.
How we work
We provide drop ins at different agencies; please contact the duty worker for details. This is an opportunity to find out what the team offers and to arrange for ongoing support. If we are not the most appropriate service we will try to refer on to other services.
We will try and see people at a place that is as convenient as possible, e.g. hostels or daycentres. People will have the same worker even if they move accommodation.
We recognise that change can be difficult and that people are different.
How to Make a Referral to the MHST
ALL AGENCIES CAN NOW REFER BY TELEPHONE
A referral should, whenever possible, be discussed with the person concerned well in advance. This gives referrers an opportunity to discuss more fully the support the MHST can offer. A referral should never be made without the person’s knowledge unless there is an obvious risk in doing so. Furthermore the users of our service do so on a voluntary basis, therefore we require that contact with the team is not made a condition of residency.
For people living in direct access hostels or rough sleeping we request that you have available the following information:
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Date of birth;
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Presenting difficulties (be as specific as you can)
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Any present or previous contact with the MHST
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Any present or previous contact with other support/treatment agencies
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Previous whereabouts/last address and length of time at current project
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Any potential or known risks to themselves or others
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Whether or not the person has requested the referral
For people living in secondary hostels we request that you have the same information as the above plus
The MHST aims to see all people referred as soon as is possible, usually within a week of allocation. Secondary hostel referrals will be discussed and allocated at our weekly Wednesday (am) meeting. During busy periods those in direct access projects and those in greatest need will be prioritised.
A referral should, whenever possible, be discussed with the person concerned well in advance. This gives referrers an opportunity to discuss more fully the support the MHST can offer. A referral should never be made without the person's knowledge unless there is an obvious risk in doing so. Furthermore the users of our service do so on a voluntary basis, therefore we require that contact with the team is not made a condition of residency.
The MHST aims to see all people referred as soon as is possible, usually within a week of allocation. Written referrals will be discussed and allocated at our weekly Wednesday (am) meeting. During busy periods those in direct access projects and those in greatest need will be prioritised. However, if a situation is deemed to be an emergency we will respond to a telephone referral. Again, the information required will be as listed above.
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Resource on Homelessness/Training
By working closely with a broad spectrum of the homeless population and a wide variety of support, treatment and housing agencies, the MHST have a unique overview of movement/trends and changing needs within the "homeless community".
This overview is of immense value to agencies throughout the City. The MHST is not only a focus point for referrals of homeless people, but it is also recognised as a valuable information resource about homelessness, the subcultures which exist within it and the resources available to help homeless people. The MHST are represented at a number of planning meetings and reference groups ensuring that the needs of homeless people are considered and included in current and future developments and strategies.
Duty Worker
The MHST have a named daily duty worker. This worker will be available to offer advice and signposting to service users or agencies requesting information and be able to respond to an emergency if required. They are contactable via the office number (01159565313).
Open Sessions
These sessions - which are held six weekly - provide an opportunity for the MHST to explain in greater detail the work they do, and a forum for those attending to raise questions or ask for advice. New workers in hostels and day centres, or anyone interested in mental health and homelessness may find these open sessions useful. To book a place contact the duty worker on 0115 9565313.
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