"The Homeless Health Team"

For years now we have received excellent services from the Homeless Health Team. On the team there used to be a CPN, Health Visitor and other health professionals. They would come to the Centre once a week to firstly speak to our support staff and then hold a surgery for our residents.

My concern is that due to cut backs that we no longer have a qualified CPN on the team. We do have a mental health worker.

We do feel that when "Care in the Community" came in that we were having an abundance of residents coming into the Centre showing signs of mental health issues.

When we had a CPN on the team we were able to contact him and was able to access more mental health support.

A manager has been to see us lately and we have discussed with him our concerns about the HHT input into the Centre. To be fair he has discussed in details the input of the team and asked how it can be improved. Discussions have taken place about each new resident having an initial health interview by the HHT which when it is set up, I think will be an improvement in the service given.

I want to say a big thank you to the HHT who have for many years now come to our Centre and have given us exemplary support with our residents and support staff.

I feel the Mental Health Services are failing many people at this present time and often our Support Workers are in a turmoil as to what to do and how best to support these very vulnerable people.