How Groundswell have shown the power of collaboration in homelessness health
“The success of our project lies in the strength of the partnerships and the multidisciplinary approach we take.”
The Groundswell Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA) service supports people experiencing homelessness to address physical and mental health issues. We work to improve people’s confidence in using health services and increase their ability to access healthcare independently. With around 70% of the Groundswell team having lived experience, we have a wealth of experience to bring to our everyday work.
A team made up of a Groundswell health case worker and volunteers started delivering HHPA in Brent and Ealing in 2022. This was a brand-new area of London to us, with the majority of the service delivering in central London boroughs for over a decade. Before 2022, Brent and Ealing didn’t have specific homeless health teams and services in place.
Three years on, the HHPA service in the borough provides a comprehensive health support service which addresses the unique needs of adults who are either currently rough sleeping or at risk of return to rough sleeping, many of whom face significant health problems and barriers to accessing the support and care they need.
We focus on helping people experiencing homelessness navigate their health concerns. Our services include:
- Assisting people in finding health information
- Supporting clients to make and attend appointments
- Helping people to understand medical instructions
- Practically providing help to overcoming logistical barriers to care, such as transport or housing issues.
- Advocating on people’s behalf, ensuring that their health needs are met, especially because so many face systemic challenges like no fixed address or a lack of access to public funds.
The key to our success lies in our collaborative approach, HHPA could not operate without this. We work closely with a wide range of partners, including Street Outreach teams, Hospital Pathway teams, Crisis-Homeless Charity, Built for Zero, Drug and Alcohol services, and local charities offering community projects. This multidisciplinary network allows us to address the complex and often multiple issues the people we support face such as mental health, addiction, housing instability, and lack of healthcare access.
Our collaborative approach is critical, particularly when working with people who are rough sleeping who have a highly mobile lifestyle. By relying on our extensive partnership network, we ensure that people are consistently supported, and no appointments are missed. Our ability to connect with various professionals across different sectors helps us to create a continuity of care experience, which is especially valuable for those who have experienced trauma and instability in their lives.
In conclusion, the success of our project lies in the strength of the partnerships and the multidisciplinary approach we take. By working together with a broad range of services, we can address the root causes of health inequalities and provide clients with the support they need to access healthcare confidently and independently. At Groundswell, like our strategy so clearly states – we are greater together; so partnerships and collaborations like we have in Brent and Ealing provide a better service and ultimately ensure more people facing homelessness get the support they need and deserve.