Somerset operates a bi-monthly online (once a month in the east, once in the west) ‘Creative Solutions forum’ which focuses on a maximum of 10 clients across both meetings. The focus is on individuals for whom there is no current solution to their housing and support needs in Somerset. Attendees are at an appropriately strategic/senior level to be able to agree/influence changes to existing processes.
The difference between this and a standard multi-agency meeting is the inclusion of a psychologist. The meeting is strengths based and client led, with the Psychologist offering a psychological, adversity and trauma informed (PAT) lens.
When a new client is referred into the meeting, they are invited in (with support) to tell us what it is they feel would help them overcome their challenges, what has worked before and what their strengths are. They can then attend any subsequent meetings, if they wish to. We have guidelines for professionals to be aware of for when a client is attending.
We go through each case and receive updates and respond to requests, as well as providing feedback where an agency can’t attend. If it is felt an agency isn’t working within the spirit of collaboration, innovation and problem solving, or stops attending, we can escalate to directors or to the strategic homelessness board.
There have been a number of notable successes in housing people with long histories of homelessness and exclusion. In addition the forum has successfully negotiated a change in housing allocation policy to enable people sleeping rough to gain a higher priority and has also produced a report detailing the financial costs of not meeting the needs of people experiencing MD which has been used as an appendix to the council Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.