Home from Hospital Homelessness Discharge pilot

Earlier this year we hosted an ‘Open Space’ with 10GM to to explore hospital discharge in Greater Manchester and bring together ideas to make use of a pot of funding aimed at improving outcome for people facing homelessness at the point of hospital discharge. From this we proposed a project which would pilot new interventions to improve hospital discharge experience through a link worker role. We are excited to announce that this project will be delivered by Petrus Community, with additional match funding from the Greater Manchester Mayors Charity

The project will see a specialist Link Worker placed across Birch Hill Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary, who will strengthen partnerships within the primary care network and provide crucial support people at risk of homelessness. The Link Worker will act as a navigator to ensure safe hospital discharges and appropriate referrals to support networks.

Petrus will utilize and embed their current community offer, including access to primary care via the Homeless Alliance Response Team, and access to health and wellbeing initiatives, as well as their menu of socially prescribed activity across various sites, in collaboration with NHS England and GM Integrated Care.

Head of Petrus, Sonia Denham said: “We’re delighted to be a key delivery partner for this project which will help us further develop relationships between professionals working across health and homelessness services and inform a longer-term response to homelessness.

“Petrus has been supporting those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness for more than 50 years, and we’re pleased to be sharing our experience with others to ensure that vulnerable people are connected with the support they need, when they need it.”

Thanks to everyone who was involved in this work!