October CEO Update
Conversations have agreeably suggested that lived experience is the key to unlocking greater service delivery and better health and social impacts; collectively we recognise that we need to do better for those who are entrenched in homelessness and the system and on that basis we want to invite our partners to work with us on a program of positive engagement; the residents and service users at St Pauls offer a platform for us to learn from, in order to understand what we do well, what we could do better and learn about how vital services are interpreted and accessed. These insights will provide valuable feedback, such as the barriers and disadvantages faced by and shape the services to be outcome orientated in the future. Please do get in touch if you would like to work with us on gaining some lived experience feedback.
At St Pauls, we celebrate the successes. The little successes, no matter how they stack up under scrutiny, are the steps towards an individual feeling that they belong in society and can begin to function in a way that positively affects their health and wellbeing, reducing unnecessary expenditure on custodial, health and housing services. For some, success is, smiling for the first time (in years), for others it is recognising food as an essential item of expenditure, shopping and proudly paying for it, for one it is being commended for their technical skills in a volunteering role, to others it may be budgeting for the week, and sticking to it. For those in resettlement success is sustaining a tenancy, looking after a home, maintaining relationships and for 50% it’s working a full-time job. Success looks different for everyone, and at St Pauls our collective expectations and service objectives reflect this.
Through our work, we strive to prepare people for more independent living. We are principled on people moving on successfully and to do this support services must be consistent, and transference must be measured, which is where it becomes more challenging. Part of the solutions may be found by leaning on the principles of Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM), made easier by the fact that Worcester City recently celebrated being one of the 10 new areas asked to join the MEAM Approach Network. This award recognises the strength of existing partnerships, projects like St Pauls Housing First Service and a clear commitment to improve services to individuals experiencing multiple disadvantages in the City. It presents a wonderful opportunity for us to coproduce a service which reflects the needs of those that need it and has longevity and funding certainty into the future.
It’s a trepidatious time; with budget announcements and funding initiatives coming to an end in March, we’re thinking about the new financial year and the risks to St Pauls core funding with some uncertainty. There is a growing need to provide time critical services to individuals inside and outside of the hostel with multiple and complex needs. Those that are living with homelessness, mental health issues, drug or alcohol dependency, (a majority of which is underpinned by) significant trauma, affecting their ability to function in society. We are seeing the successes of our Housing First Service which houses individuals, that would otherwise be homeless, supporting them with their needs while they have a safe and secure place to call home. In this instance, the Housing First criteria suggests that all other intervention from mainstream services has failed due to the complexity of need and an inconsistent delivery model. At St Pauls we want to expand on the Housing First model, leaning on the MEAM Approach and are due to implement new support plans at the hostel as we reinvigorate what move on and breaking the cycle of homelessness looks like.
We are actively looking for funds to secure move on posts within our internal resource, a model which was successful in the past and developing the brilliant team to help St Pauls continue to make a real difference to people’s lives in our City.
Erica Burlace, CEO.