Effective Resettlement for prisoners and ex-offenders Rachael Byrne Director of Supported Housing ECHG
About ECHG Housing association In 177 local authorities With 5,000 clients Client base of those most marginalised Creative supported housing solutions – including self-build! Specialist subsidiary of the Riverside Group Work with offenders
Service User Aspirations Are they different from any individuals? Homelessness accentuates issues? Supported Housing delivering on “Places of Change” Delivering on the “softer” targets Delivering on targets that benefit the wider community Making a step change to the outcomes we wanted to deliver on for our service users…
Question% ranked as important Improved access to housing lists93% Income maximisation90% Improvement in physical health85% Take up of resettlement Programmes84% Access to GP service83% Access to training and employment80% Access to life skills training80% Social and emotional support78% Decrease in offending and/or anti-social behavior76% Monitoring time since leaving the street75% Reduction in substance/alcohol misuse & availability of treatment options74% Direct access to mental health services71% Reduction in instances of self harm68% Outcome monitoring
ECHG’s approach to support Planning goals and support plan together Using a format that is user friendly and based on the feedback from consultation Well trained support staff Ethos of the organisation Allowing innovation Targets for support based on the outcomes framework
Prison and rough sleeping 85-90% of people sleeping rough have previous prison time from Counted In’s experiences Repeat, prolific offenders Often low tariff offences Access to services – inconsistent and a lot of lost contact Requirement for low-threshold services Focus had been on longer term rough sleepers
ECHG’s response Establishment of Prison Link based on the induction wing at Manchester Prison Using the data from the chaplaincy/Counted In to access funding Liaison with supported scheme for better access The role of Day/Night centres Targeting emergency beds and pilot stays Ability to offer supported housing and floating support Work with the MoD – Colchester Corrective Centre
ECHG’s ‘Wet Unit’ Home to six clients with long-term alcohol problems Centenary House based at ECHG’s 32-unit project in Derby Emphasises structure regular meals Encourages clients liquid intake Establishes contacts to GPs to stabilise health issues Develops good working practice Deals with entrenched behaviours (pyjamas/showers) Safe and secure Two awards in 2006!!!!
About our clients – ‘George’ His story years rough sleeping Anti-social behaviour – offending history Alcohol prevented him getting accommodation Moved to the unit on the opening day
About our clients – ‘George’ His progress... Sees a GP weekly and has his first glasses Claims Disability Living Allowance and buys clothes Provision of move in pack first day on unit wore Pyjamas!!!!! Eats three nutritious meals a day
About our clients – ‘George’ His future... "I feel the unit is my home" Hospital admission with Korsakoff syndrome Nursing care with visits from staff and residents