Elaine Rumble, Deputy Director of Nursing.
START Team (Outreach Service for homeless people)
Services Provided:
A multi-disciplinary community mental health team for single homeless people which covers Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. START uses assertive outreach techniques to engage homeless people with mental health problems who are not (and perhaps never have been) engaged with mental health services. We have an open referral system but will usually insist on a written referral. Assessment, treatment and case management are provided in hostels and day centres for homeless people, out patient departments and, where necessary, the street. Although START sometimes works with individuals over a period of years, it is not a continuing care team. Our role is to re-integrate clients with local mainstream services.
We have admitting rights to three small housing projects for people with mental health problems who have been sleeping out. These are run by Thamesreach Bondway (details below).
START also manages a stand-alone training unit, which provides modules of training in mental health issues to voluntary sector staff working in hostels, day centres and street outreach teams for homeless people.
We have an information session every month when other workers can find out more about the team and how it works please contact for further details.
The service is for:
The service is for
People who are:
Homeless (see below)
Over 18 years of age
Have a severe and enduring mental illness
This includes schizophrenia, affective disorders and personality disorders
Are unwilling or unable to engage with mainstream services
All 4 criteria must be met. We do not see people just because they are homeless.
Common referral issues:
If a local service has a homeless client with whom they are unable to maintain contact, START can work jointly with that service to re-engage the client. If this is not possible, START can take over the care of the client.
If accommodation has recently been lost while under the care of a SLAM team, START will not take the case over unless it is clear that the original team is unable to maintain contact with the client. Again, joint working is possible.
When should a client be considered as homeless?
If they are:
Sleeping out
Sleeping in abandoned buildings
Squatting
Sleeping on a friends floor
Using direct access hostels for homeless people:
Lambeth St Mungos, Cedars Road
Thamesreach Bondway Graham House, Bondway
Thamesreach Bondway, Stamford Street
Centrepoint Vauxhall, Bondway
Southwark St Mungos, Great Guildford Street
Missionaries of Charity, St Georges Road
)
Broadway, Manor Place
Equinox Jo Richards House, Queens Road
Salvation Army, Blackfriars Road
Open Door, Southwark Bridge Road (only partially direct access)
St Mungos Rolling Shelter, Rushworth Street
Lewisham Spring Gardens
St Mungos, Pagnell Street
Using day centres for homeless people. If a client gives one of these day centres as their address, this may indicate that he or she is homeless:
Lambeth:Waterloo Christian Centre, Webber Street
Spires, Tooting Bec Gardens
Ace of Clubs, St Alphonsus Road
Refugee Day Centre, Ferndale Road
Southwark: St Giles Trust, Camberwell Church Street
Manna Centre, Melior Street
Lewisham: Deptford Churches Centre
Living in one of the three specialist housing projects, run by Thamesreach Bondway:
Aberdour Court, 24 Aberdour Street , SE1
90, Galleywall Road, SE16
15-17 Lambeth High Street, SE1
Opening Times:
9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
The team operates a duty desk between 10.00am and 4.00pm for information and advice.
For advice or information on homeless resources
To discuss a potential referral
To check whether a homeless client in contact with your service is known to START
To request a referral form
Disabled Access:
We have no clinic of our own, but see clients mainly in voluntary sector hostels, day centres, or when required on the street. We have out-patient slots at Guys and St Thomas sites which may be used by any member of our team.
Other Information:
Service provided for people living in the Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.
Address:
88 Camberwell Road
London
SE5 OEG
Phone:
0203 228 5900
Fax:
0203 228 5901
Contact:
Andy Day
Email:
Andy.Day@slam.nhs.uk
Website:
This page last updated: 29 January 2010