Essex Partnership University NHS Trust’s Health Outreach team supports hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds, all from marginalised communities, in the east and west Suffolk areas.
Provision for the service has been extended for 10 years, meaning marginalised and vulnerable adults will continue to receive support accessing mainstream health and social care services.
A one year pilot has also been agreed in north east Essex, meaning more people will receive the support they need.
The team works to offer treatment, care, advocacy and advice for homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers, gypsies and travellers, migrant workers and ex-offenders.
The 16 core staff members take care and services directly to the people they serve and there is an administration team who provide valuable business support.
The team will deliver services in any environment, including homes, hotels, hostels, squats, on the streets, church halls, bed and breakfasts, and at soup kitchens. They also hold daily drop-in sessions at their base in Ipswich.
Kat Saunders, who is one of the clinical team managers and covers east Suffolk, said:
“Our Health Outreach team is dedicated to breaking down barriers and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to the care and support they need.
“This extension of our service allows us to continue reaching those who might otherwise fall through the cracks, offering not just medical care but also dignity and hope.
“There isn’t a team like us anywhere else. We cover so many marginalised groups, whereas other services for vulnerable people only cover single population groups.
“We’re multi-disciplinary, so we all have huge strengths and knowledge in different areas and really draw on that knowledge. Everyone knows something useful!
“The team are highly skilled at engaging people when they are their most vulnerable.
“We are also hugely collaborative with other organisations. We’ve got some amazing partners, which makes a difference.”
The Health Outreach team currently support about 35 street homeless people during an average week, and many others in temporary accommodation.
They have worked with more than 500 refugees and people seeking asylum over the last two years. This was a direct response to people arriving into the UK and being urgently placed in hotel accommodation.
The team give wide-ranging care, including vaccinations, health screening, treatment for wounds, mental health assessments and health advice.
They also work closely with GPs, charities, councils and voluntary organisations to support people to access health and social care.
Building trust and rapport with their patients is crucial, especially as many will have had difficult experiences dealing with official services and authorities, or are reluctant or don’t know how to seek support.
One patient provided great feedback for the team: “You are a wonderful team, absolutely all of you. You make me feel like family. Thank you from the heart for everything you do.”
Other patients have been adding their thanks to a colourful mural in the team’s waiting area. It displays messages of thanks in different languages and includes many different flags from all over the world.
