Holding conversations about health

People experiencing homelessness face some of the worst health outcomes and often rely heavily on emergency care. The Bridging the Health Gap report highlighted the key role that homelessness services play in encouraging people to engage with health care. However, many staff and volunteers lack the confidence and capacity to initiate conversations about health.

As part of the Bridging the Health Gap project, we have produced a suite of resources aimed at supporting staff and volunteers to have conversations about health. This work was produced in partnership with Pathway and Groundswell, and has been funded through the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, jointly managed and funded by Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and UK Health Security Agency. For more information, please visit: https://www.england.nhs.uk/hwalliance

List of resources:

• Document containing links to existing guidance & training around health conditions & conversations
• Workshop PowerPoint slides & plan
• Briefing on what support should be offered to staff working in frontline roles
• Health Services Directory template
• MACCA (Making all Contacts Count through Advocacy) 1-Pager - produced by Groundswell
• Webinar recording on approaches that workers can use to engage in health-focused conversations

Webinar content:

• The ‘Making All Contacts Count through Advocacy’ (MACCA) Approach: Groundswell
• How to approach challenging conversations around physical & mental health: NOAH Enterprise
• The importance of health conversations: Experts by Experience
• Bridging the Health Gap Project overview & resources: Homeless Link