The GM VCSE Hospital Discharge Alliance (via 10GM), the GM Homelessness Action Network (GMHAN), and Petrus Community are working together to pilot a new intervention to improve hospital discharge experiences for homeless people. The project has been made possible through funding from 10GM and the GM Mayor’s Charity and will be delivered by our team at Petrus.
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 utilise 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.”