Liverpool City Region Hospital Discharge Project

The Whitechapel Centre has been awarded funding from the Department of Health to deliver housing advice and support to homeless patients as they are discharged from hospital.

Working in partnership with The Basement, Liverpool YMCA, Big Life Group, Brownlow Group Practice and local hospitals, the project will build upon existing models of good practice to ensure homeless people who are discharged from hospital do not return to the street. 


The project, which is initially funded until the end of March 2014, will provide Hospital Outreach Workers based with in both Whiston and Royal Liverpool Hospital.  These workers will contact patients, undertake assessments of need and work to find appropriate housing.  To maximise housing options and prevent any delay in discharge, the service will be able to access four new ring-fenced beds that have been identified across the region.  

It is estimated that homeless people attend A&E up to six times more than people with a home.  Currently 70% of homeless people are discharged from hospital without their housing or on-going care needs being suitably addressed. The Hospital Outreach Workers will ensure patients are linked into primary care services, helping ensure appropriate follow up care, in order to reduce future hospital admissions.


David Carter, Chief Executive of The Whitechapel Centre said, “We are delighted that this funding has been made available. The Hospital Discharge Project will play a significant part in breaking the cycle of poor health and homelessness and allow us to intervene before the client returns to the street. We already work closely with the NHS and we are delighted to strengthen our partnerships with local services even further.”

John's Story

John was referred to The Whitechapel Centre back in the winter of 2012 following some stressful life events which had affected him and had an impact on how he lived. 

He was settled in a tenancy with his partner and two sons, and was working in an office. John and his partner started having problems with their relationship which eventually came to an end. This had a big effect on John and his mental health. Thankfully he had friends who allowed him to sleep on their couch for a short while. This wasn’t a long term solution for John though and eventually he ended up sleeping on his brother's bedroom floor.
 
In the midst of all the stress and uncertainty that John was facing, he was still trying to manage seeing his sons on a regular basis as well as maintain his work. Eventually something had to give and John lost his job. John’s mental health was at a real low and in an attempt to escape from the stress, he began binge drinking alcohol.

John was left with no home, no job, plunged into a benefit system which was increasingly difficult to understand and his mental health was getting worse. It seemed like the only escape for John was to spend what little money he had on alcohol and fall into a vicious circle of low mood, anxiety and depression.

John was introduced to Kenny, a support worker from The Whitechapel Centre Dual Diagnosis team. Both John and Kenny sat down and worked out a support plan together. The aim of the plan was to get John the best help and guidance around his low mood, depression and anxiety, support him to move to his own independent tenancy, give John the option of alcohol services if he wanted to engage with it. Kenny was also there for John if he simply needed someone to talk to.

Kenny accompanied John to appointments and supported John to keep in contact with relevant medical services so that John could get the right help and support with his mental health. John met with Kenny on a weekly basis to search for properties and have a coffee and a chat at a local coffee shop. This helped John reflect on how he could do things in his life to reduce his alcohol intake as well as aim for a new tenancy for himself.

After many months of searching and bidding on Property Pool Plus last month John accepted a tenancy that he wanted, and is currently in the busy process of decorating his new flat. He now has a place he can build a new life for himself and also has space for his sons to stay over and spend quality time with him. John has significantly reduced his alcohol intake and he is budgeting his money for his new flat. His mental health continues to improve. Kenny will continue to work with John in the coming months to help him settle into his new flat and also work on improving his mental health.

We all at The Whitechapel would like to wish John all the very best for the future!

To find out more about the work that Kenny does as a part of the Whitechapel dual diagnosis team visit our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk

Gary's Amazing Everest Challenge (and he even left the tshirt to prove it!)

This September Whitechapel support worker, Gary English and his wife Robyn, left the security of their home and started on the precarious trip to climb up a part of The Himalayas.

Their journey took them first to Kathmandu, then on to Lukla airport, which has been described as 'the most dangerous airport in the world', all just to reach their end destination.

From Lukla Gary, Robyn and the rest of their group were led by their guide, Dunbar,  to Everest base camp, it was at this point Gary was taken to meet an Italian climbing group where he enjoyed a very strong and sweet cup of coffee, what he described as a 'very surreal moment'.

Gary sporting his Whitechapel t shirt whilst at Everest base camp.

The following day the group were then taken on the grueling climb up 5545 meters to the top of Kala Patthar.

When they reached the top they went inside a Nepalese Tea House, and on seeing the other mementos that visitors had left came up with the idea of leaving a memory of themselves behind.

Gary (right) with his guide Dunbar and his Whitechapel t shirt hung in the background

The journey didn't end there, the plane flight leaving containing just 14 people had a hole in floor, and at a point of turbulence the air hostess started to pray. When they landed the travelers knew that they had been lucky to have a safe journey home.

Along their emotional and spiritual journey Gary and Robyn met many beautiful people whilst having the experience of a life time.

To find out more about the work that Gary does as part of the Resettlement team at the Whitechapel Centre please visit our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk

Whitechapel Pre Volunteers Successfully Complete Course

Another set of our pre-volunteers have successfully completed their course, and had a celebratory buffet and presentation service to show it.

The group have taken part in various different training sessions, along with visits out to different sites around the city.

They have learned about culture throughout our city, and visited the libraries and museums to see what they have on view.

Kevin successfully completed the course.

The educational side of the program provides basic first aid training, along with processes for learning how to deal with others also discussion groups and talks from outside tutors.

This quarter at least one of those who have been through the program is going on to join the full volunteer course.

James with his certificate

The course was thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part, there is no time to rest though as the next round of pre volunteers start again on the 1st October.

To find out more about the work that we carry out in our Enablement Centre and all about our MOVE Project please visit our website at: http://www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk

Zip Slide off Silver Jubiliee (Runcorn) Bridge - Take 2

On Sunday 29th September three intrepid adventurers made their way to Runcorn Bridge for the second time that month, just so that they could jump off it!

Support worker, Lisa, Lee and Patrick were all returning after their first attempt at a zip slide form the bridge was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, and thankfully this time the sun was shining.

After a short wait they were all kitted out with the relevant equipment, helmet, gloves, and most importantly their harness.

Lee and Lisa before their zip slide.

The group were then taken up to the bridge where they had to cautiously step over the side of the barrier, and start on their zip slide down to the ground.

Lisa about to go!!

 All three successfully completed the challenge, despite their nerves, and conquered any fear of heights so that they could raise money for The Whitechapel Centre.

Patrick just after landing.

After taking part Lisa said, "The Zip was a massive challenge more so for Lee as he has a genuine fear of heights, whilst I found it a challenge, Lee was able to come away from the challenge with a massive sense of achievement at having faced one of his main fears".

Altogether they managed to raised over £1000, which added on to the amounts already raised by David and Mia on the first zip slide makes it a very successful venture indeed.

To find out more about the work that we do at The Whitechapel Centre and to see how you can help please visit our website at: www.http://whitechapelcentre.co.uk