L-R: Kirk Master, Phil Johnson, Dawn Holding & Lord Willy Bach
Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach has hailed the work of healthcare professionals who are supporting the homeless to access help for mental health issues.
The PCC and Deputy PCC Kirk Master met Phil Johnson, Senior Practitioner in Mental Health and Dawn Holding, Mental Health Team Manager, both from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), to find out more about the work they do to engage the homeless, assess their needs and r refer them to appropriate support and care.
Phil Johnson, who works for LPT’s pioneering Homeless Mental Health Service for adults, has recently won a national fellowship award in recognition of his work to transform the lives of homeless people in Leicester.
Nominated by his colleagues, Phil was awarded the Fellow of the National Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health – a national membership organisation for those who deliver healthcare to excluded groups.
LPT’s Homeless Mental Health Service provides mental health assessments, drop-in sessions, street outreach, hostel visits and referral to treatment services to around 400 people who present as homeless every year.
The team works in conjunction with a host of agencies including housing providers and doctors to ensure those who need help receive the appropriate care to recover.
Speaking after the visit, Willy Bach said: “It is our duty to protect vulnerable people suffering from mental health issues, regardless of their background or circumstances.
“So much police demand results from people suffering mental health crisis who are not offered the right help or care to solve their problems and we all need to work together to provide a better response.
“I’m very proud of the work of this service and the multiagency commitment that exists to change lives. Positive action delivers positive results and these health heroes really are making a difference.”
Dawn Holding said: “We are very proud of Phil and his continued dedication to working with Homeless people which has not diminished since he commenced in post over 10 years ago. We are lucky to have him working in our organisation and hope to work with him for many more years to come.”
The PCC has pledged his own commitment to tackling mental health issues and so-called ‘street lifestyles’ in his Police and Crime Plan.
In a series of priorities, the PCC has pledged to work with partners to offer appropriate services to vulnerable people, work with health partners to achieve the aims of the multiagency Crisis Care Concordat (a national agreement setting out how organisations should work together to better help those in mental health crisis) and deliver a partnership approach to managing street drinking, substance misuse and related begging.
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Posted on Wednesday 10th October 2018