The Homeless Mental Health Service (HMHS) provides
assessment, treatment and support to homeless people
aged over sixteen with mental health difficulties in Leicester
City, bridging the gap for homeless people unable to access
the full range of mental health services. They accept self
referrals, or referrals from anyone supporting a homeless
person, and also engage people who have lost contact with
mainstream mental health services. There is an “open
door” policy, with access to the service being offered
exclusively on the criteria of the person being homeless.
Data shows that between 30% and 50% of street
homeless people or those living in temporary or insecure
accommodation have a significant mental illness. The
project aims to improve the quality of life for the homeless
in Leicester by providing appropriate, personalised mental
health assessment and access to treatment, assisting
service users to access appropriate accommodation and
facilitating access to mainstream mental health services. In
order to improve other local services currently accessed by
homeless people, the team shares models of care with the
voluntary and statutory sectors, advises other professionals,
provides information and training to other professionals
and provides a liaison between hostel providers and
mainstream mental health services. In addition to the
multiple personal and individual benefits realised by the
project, including helping clients achieve or maintain
stability in their accommodation and reaching their goals
with regard to their mental health, the establishment of the
service provides excellent value for money.
One partner organisation, Leicester City Council has huge
praise for the team. “The HMHS has embraced the
challenges that working in these relatively unconventional
settings can pose. The team has adapted working styles,
practices and protocols, whilst managing to uphold the
highest levels of integrity with regard to ethical operating
practice. The service is characterised by being user-driven
through its inclusive approach to service delivery…
Leicester’s homeless services are admired across the
country as being top quality, user focused and with great
outcomes. The HMHS has been embedded with other
services (housing support, primary health) from the
beginning and none of these achievements could have
happened without them.”
For more information on this project, please contact:
Philip.Johnson@leicspart.nhs.uk
