Outreach Psychotheraphy: 'A Place Within'
The Pitch
Problem statement
People who are entrenched rough-sleepers or vulnerably housed for long periods of time often end up in this position for complex reasons. These include: abuse, neglect, relationship breakdown, experience in the criminal justice system and unemployment, and more. When the clients we support reach a point when they are experiencing a combination of these factors it can be very difficult to break the cycle of failure, and they struggle to access mainstream services. Many homeless people then feel excluded leading to high levels of loneliness, isolation, and depression. Statistics around homelessness in the UK: 72% experience mental illness Life expectancy is between 42-47 years old
Solution
Our team provides a reflective, psychotherapeutic service to clients experiencing homelessness. The service has been available in Tower Hamlets and City of London since 2018. Rough sleepers benefit from highly specialised therapists providing psychotherapy interventions in a unique and innovative way e.g. in their preferred environment, on their terms. The service works with clients who are in the most need but least likely to attend a traditional service. Meeting clients at their preferred location like their bedding-down site, café or library for frequent sessions ensures our service gives some control of the psychotherapy process to the client enabling a more equal relationship.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
We have been supporting similar people to understand and deal with the underlying reasons for their homelessness so they can get off, and stay off, the streets for many years. Our clients know they can rely on us for support at times of crisis and when other more mainstream services can no longer assist them. Our comprehensive range of services developed over many years, in some cases in co-production with our clients, means we can provide holistic support to our complex needs clients as we realise the importance of supporting the ‘whole person’ to achieve outcomes. We work closely with numerous partners which is vital in helping entrenched homeless people overcome their multiple needs.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| 5 x tablets (£400 each) to enable efficient and flexible outreach work, improving clients service without the burden of a large laptop | £2,000 |
| Professional development training for psychotherapists to enhance therapeutic skills and knowledge | £2,500 |
| Activities or a retreat focused on building stronger interpersonal relationships, communication, and collaboration among team members. | £500 |
Beneficiaries
150 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
By receiving this fund the impact will include:• Psychotherapists will be able to work effectively during outreach using light-weight tablets, improving client services• Team will be at the forefront of psychotherapeutic practice through professional training, benefitting client care• Team building will maintain a positive work environment, reduce burnout and improve collaborationOverall impact will include:• 77% will be supported into, and helped to maintain their, accommodation;• 50% will reduce their substance misuse by receiving support to access treatment and attend appointments following referrals for substance misuse support;• 53% will access additional support services and activities such as learning and training opportunities, domestic violence services and community mental health services amongst others;• 7% will engage in volunteering, including becoming Peer Mentors at Providence Row; • 47% will get back in touch with their family and friends.
Track record
“The Psychotherapy Service offers someone you can talk openly with because they don’t judge you. I haven’t felt judged at all. I can say anything and it will be alright. It’s had a major influence on my wellbeing. You’ve given me hope when I didn’t have any. It’s made me care about my future. It’s about change, and I didn’t want to change before. I’m able to put things into practice. It’s been a massive help to me”, Client Testimony Our track record is that our service support 90% of clients to move into accommodation with 80% of clients sustaining that accommodation for at least three months. We have also support all psychotherapy clients in the following: - Engage with other support available such as substance misuse and - Begin engaging in learning, training and volunteer activities and possibly even securing employment. -- Begin reengaging with family and friends who they may have lost contact with through homelessness