Which Way Home? 19 PRACTICE EXAMPLE: Facilitating inter-agency working The Simon Communities have held a number of events at national, regional and local levels during 2012 and 2103 exploring how housing-led approaches might operate in national and regional, urban and rural contexts. It is difficult to untangle how far the financial constraints that other providers are operating PRACTICE EXAMPLES: under are driving practice, and how far there are Joint working arrangements very diverse interpretations of how a housing-led approach should look in relation to detailed South East Simon: the Housing First worker implementation. A couple of areas of concern by has developed an arrangement with the respondents were: probation service to provide a maintenance support service as part of building l Perceptions by other providers of accommodation provided by Simon relationships with private landlords. Communities as transitional and time limited, rather than someone’s home for life; l Time limited support rather than an open However, other respondents noted that accessing ended commitment. In addition respondents services provided by different agencies was often emphasised a need to recognise fluctuations on a case by case basis. There was a sense that in the need for support amongst service service users were required to relate their users as part of an open ended commitment ‘stories’ in order to prove a need, often many (see below). However, a recognition that for times to different providers. Respondents some individuals that there is no end in terms reported that one way of putting joint working on of support required, was tempered by a need for workers to reflect avoiding dependencies. a firmer footing would be through the development of inter-agency protocols. A current A further issue was that variations between areas weakness noted by a number of respondents was in terms of practice often came down to that service users with multiple needs could easily personalities and the nature of working fall between services, if respective service relationships. On one hand, the fragility of this providers refused to take responsibility for one situation was highlighted as key staff with aspect of a person’s condition, until other issues considerable experience might move on, retire, or were addressed. A view by one respondent was as posts are frozen or cut. On the other hand, a replicated by others elsewhere, number of respondents noted very pragmatic approach work. These respondents highlighted the “ We eisnd hedementamhealtpeoselrvhceve duilllsayawsaiephynaltahtrnA.fussidel-gnisuohagnikamfotcepsasihtotsesnopse r value of building up an information resource for people need to focus on addiction. And their areas of operation, which detailed key addiction services will say people need to focus services and individuals within them who were on mental health. It’s happened a number of supportive of housing-led services, and where times that they are not willing to referrals, applications and paperwork were more support...(staff). likely to be fast-tracked or handled sympathetically.
Which Way Home?
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