St Mungo’s integrated and personalised service highlighted as good practice

01 March 2010

Neighbourhood Link, an innovative St Mungo's scheme in Islington developed in partnership with the Revolving Doors Agency, has been highlighted in a recent Government report for its good practice, and as just the kind of service that needs new sustainable ways of funding.

"The Role of Third Sector Innovation", published by the Cabinet Office, features the Neighbourhood Link scheme as a prime example of a successful integrated and personalised, early intervention service.

The scheme helps people with multiple and complex needs who are either involved in crime or at risk of becoming involved in crime and becoming homeless.

The report said it is the kind of scheme that needs more stable ways of funding. "Many of these organisations often find it difficult to secure stable statutory funding for their services as the benefits of investment are often felt in the longer term and across multiple statutory funding streams. ... Government and the third sector should consider new and innovative approaches to funding personalised early interventions."(p23)

In welcoming the report St Mungo's Chief Executive Charles Fraser CBE, said: "This is welcome recognition of the vital work that St Mungo's does in tailoring its services to the specific needs of the individual.

"The people who are referred to our Neighbourhood Link Scheme often present with multiple and very complex needs - anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol use and mental health issues. If we can prevent people from becoming homeless, that's one less crisis for them to deal with. It's also better for the local community and ultimately the taxpayer.

"It is vital that holistic services like this are sustainably commissioned and replicated if we are to support vulnerable people more effectively."

Catherine Hennessy, Director of Developments and Partnership at Revolving Doors Agency, said: "We are pleased with this recognition that third sector partnership working with community policing can provide personalised early intervention for adults with multiple problems. It thereby ensures that they receive adequate support and are diverted from increasing involvement with the criminal justice system."

About Neighbourhood Link

The Neighbourhood Link Scheme is a five-year pilot project based in Islington started in 2007.

It works with eight local police Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, Homes for Islington (a registered social landlord), Highbury Grove Crisis Centre, the Drugs and Alcohol Action Team and the local Primary Care Trust.

The team works with approximately 35 people over the age of 17 all referred because of their multiple and complex needs. Since the service began:

  • 118 clients have been referred to the service.
  • Clients' links to services have increased by as much as 34 per cent with the most progress made in housing, outreach services, legal representation and advocacy.
  • Contact with the police has fallen from 31 per cent to 9 per cent.

The scheme was praised as "exceptional" last year in the Bradley Review an independent inquiry into services that divert offenders with mental health problems or learning difficulties from the prison system.

Also last year, St Mungo's launched a £1m Mental Health Appeal to address some of the major obstacles people with mental health issues face in accessing housing and health services, and published Happiness Matters, research into what homeless people feel about their wellbeing and the services available to them.

ENDS

Notes to editor

Back to latest press releases

Related content