1. ‘Bereavement and Loss’ www.gofalcymru.org.uk October 22nd 2008 Greg Thomas – Head of Services

2. Presentation Content An Introduction to Gofal Cymru An Introduction to Gofal Cymru Our services Our services Mental Health Homelessness Prevention Mental Health Homelessness Prevention What is a home? What is a home? Me, my mind, my home – a case study Me, my mind, my home – a case study Questions Questions

3. Introduction to Gofal Cymru History of Gofal Cymru Registered Charity (Not for Profit) Registered Charity (Not for Profit) Set up in 1990 following the closure of Parc and Penyfai Hospitals, Bridgend. Set up in 1990 following the closure of Parc and Penyfai Hospitals, Bridgend. Developed community based services following the Community Care Act Legislation (1990) Developed community based services following the Community Care Act Legislation (1990) 18 years experience of delivering specialist community mental health services 18 years experience of delivering specialist community mental health services Working across eleven local authorities in Wales Working across eleven local authorities in Wales Now delivering a range of specialist services. Now delivering a range of specialist services.

4. Service Portfolio Supported Housing Supported Housing 24 hour rehabilitation service 24 hour rehabilitation service Tenancy / Floating Support Tenancy / Floating Support Cardiff Crisis House Cardiff Crisis House Homelessness Prevention, Support and Advice – Hospital-to-Home & Mental Health Link Worker Homelessness Prevention, Support and Advice – Hospital-to-Home & Mental Health Link Worker Out of Hours Social & Emotional Support Out of Hours Social & Emotional Support Work Preparation Work Preparation Family Support Family Support

5. Mental Health Homelessness Prevention Services Developed from a Housing Support & Advice model Developed from a Housing Support & Advice model Aiming to prevent homelessness Aiming to prevent homelessness Meeting the aims of The Mental Health National Service Framework, particularly Standard 3: Meeting the aims of The Mental Health National Service Framework, particularly Standard 3: “Promotion of Opportunities for a Normal Pattern of Daily Life” This includes support to access and maintain good quality housing This includes support to access and maintain good quality housing

6. Service Delivery Advice and information to individuals who are homeless or threatened with homelessness Advice and information to individuals who are homeless or threatened with homelessness Preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, relationship breakdown or other social crisis occurring Preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, relationship breakdown or other social crisis occurring Support to access specialist support and exercise rights under community care and housing legislation Support to access specialist support and exercise rights under community care and housing legislation Promotion of mental health and well being Promotion of mental health and well being Work with Homelessness Departments, Social Services, Health Professionals and other statutory or non statutory providers with a co-ordinated approach to meet the needs of vulnerable people with mental health problems. Work with Homelessness Departments, Social Services, Health Professionals and other statutory or non statutory providers with a co-ordinated approach to meet the needs of vulnerable people with mental health problems.

7. What is a home? Adequate shelter is a fundamental requirement for all people Adequate shelter is a fundamental requirement for all people Without this an individual's ability to function at their optimum is severely compromised Without this an individual's ability to function at their optimum is severely compromised A home should also be safe, comfortable, affordable and secure A home should also be safe, comfortable, affordable and secure Loss of accommodation can have a negative impact upon mental well being Loss of accommodation can have a negative impact upon mental well being Housing conditions should not undermine a persons recovery Housing conditions should not undermine a persons recovery Gofal Cymru homelessness prevention projects provided support to 522 individuals last year Gofal Cymru homelessness prevention projects provided support to 522 individuals last year

8. ‘Me, my mind, my home’ A case study A case study

9. Step 1 - take away my home I’m a 41yr old male who at the age of 18 left the family home to move in with my partner I’m a 41yr old male who at the age of 18 left the family home to move in with my partner This move was not supported by my family This move was not supported by my family After a short time the relationship failed and I had to leave After a short time the relationship failed and I had to leave I returned to the family home but was not permitted to stay I returned to the family home but was not permitted to stay I became homeless I became homeless

10. Step 2 - separation and isolation I was rejected by my partner and then by my family I was rejected by my partner and then by my family I could not cope with this and began to self medicate. Others call it being a junkie, an addict I could not cope with this and began to self medicate. Others call it being a junkie, an addict By the time I was in my thirties my new home was the doorway of a derelict church By the time I was in my thirties my new home was the doorway of a derelict church I was then arrested and entered the criminal justice system I was then arrested and entered the criminal justice system

11. Step 3 - take away my safety I was now in temporary accommodation. Prison. I was now in temporary accommodation. Prison. I had company though as for many years there was one voice who would talk to me, although I was the only one who could hear ‘him’ I had company though as for many years there was one voice who would talk to me, although I was the only one who could hear ‘him’ He would tell me things that others were thinking and saying about me and I had never heard this voice until I was living on the streets. He would tell me things that others were thinking and saying about me and I had never heard this voice until I was living on the streets. I was showing signs of delusions and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and transferred to a Psychiatric Unit I was showing signs of delusions and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and transferred to a Psychiatric Unit This was a ‘better’ sort of temporary accommodation. I was then transferred to a Hospital This was a ‘better’ sort of temporary accommodation. I was then transferred to a Hospital

12. Step 4 - What have I lost? ‘ My home, my security, my safety, my partner My home, my security, my safety, my partner My life aspirations and expectations of having a family of my own with children My life aspirations and expectations of having a family of my own with children My freedom My freedom The coping mechanisms which gave me control over my life The coping mechanisms which gave me control over my life My confidence, self esteem, self worth and motivation My confidence, self esteem, self worth and motivation Peer group support Peer group support The chance of being an active citizen The chance of being an active citizen The chance to develop new skills and take up new opportunities The chance to develop new skills and take up new opportunities

13. What caused this…..? Becoming homeless Becoming homeless Being ‘abandoned’ by my partner and my family Being ‘abandoned’ by my partner and my family Having to live on the streets Having to live on the streets Self medicating Self medicating Feeling that I had no hope and could not ‘break the cycle’ Feeling that I had no hope and could not ‘break the cycle’ All these things combined to leave me with severe mental health problems All these things combined to leave me with severe mental health problems

14. Where I am now? Now in my forties I am moving into a home of my own Now in my forties I am moving into a home of my own It is the best thing I have experienced for many years It is the best thing I have experienced for many years My mental health is now more stable and I am receiving regular support with lots of things in my life My mental health is now more stable and I am receiving regular support with lots of things in my life I was able to achieve this with support from the Homelessness Prevention and Support Project I was able to achieve this with support from the Homelessness Prevention and Support Project And now I’m looking to the future….. And now I’m looking to the future…..

15. How did I achieve this? I was referred to the service by the nursing staff who I was referred to the service by the nursing staff who have been working with me have been working with me Everyone worked together and Gofal Cymru used Everyone worked together and Gofal Cymru used their skills and knowledge to identify a project that could their skills and knowledge to identify a project that could meet my needs meet my needs I had support to access an appropriate tenancy I had support to access an appropriate tenancy This met my housing need but also provided me with the This met my housing need but also provided me with the support needed to develop my independent living skills support needed to develop my independent living skills

16. Questions Questions ‘Thank you for this opportunity’ www.gofalcymru.org.uk gregthomas@gofalcymru.org.uk