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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!
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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 UserAspirations • 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…
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... • 15 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