Who we are
We are a dedicated team supporting improved health outcomes for rough sleepers and those in temporary accommodation, across Kent and Medway. We do this by providing easy access to health services, such as specialist nursing, podiatry, dentistry and dietary advice, with the aim of supporting people to self-manage some conditions, where possible and encouraging them to re-engage with mainstream services.
Service aims
The aim of the service is to provide easy access to health care professionals, without the need for an appointment, allowing flexibility.
Nurses and healthcare professionals building trusted and open relationships has resulted in increased communication with people who are homeless, leading to more people being helped and supported, more conditions being accurately diagnosed and treated and an improvement in the management of patient conditions.
This service is key to supporting patients, by helping them to access health and social service provision within Kent and Medway. This collaboration and multi-organisational approach provides support and expertise for physical and mental health, dentistry, addiction, housing and social needs.
The service endeavours to improve life expectancy, reduce hospital admissions, improve dental care and promote collaboration across provider and local organisations. It helps people with assessment, treatment, signposting and social prescribing.
What the service includes
- Assessing the patient, including signposting and onward referral to other services where required
- Identifying medical need and creating a treatment plan with the patient
- Providing clinics in accessible locations, including churches, church halls, day centres, soup kitchens, community centres as well as providing healthcare in temporary accommodation or on the street, when needed
- A mobile dental clinic provided by Dentaid
- A podiatry and dietetic clinic
- Patient support to attend appointments and continued engagement
- Working as part of multi-agency to team to ensure the best outcome for the patient.
What the service can help with
- Wound care (not long term)
- Long-term condition support for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart failure, diabetes and exacerbation management
- Skin care treatment, including rashes, infections and infestations
- Healthy eating
- Stopping smoking
- End of life care
- Medicines management
- Foot care, with a podiatry clinic held in day centres
- Dental care, with a mobile dental clinic provided by Dentaid
- Substance abuse signposting to local services
- Frailty assessment
- Diagnostics such as bloods, electrocardiogram (ECG) and physical examination.
Inclusion criteria
- Aged 18 and over
- Sleeping rough or in temporary accommodation within Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling, Sevenoaks, Medway, Dover, Canterbury, Folkestone and Hythe or Ashford
- Working with and known by one of the outreach teams. This includes, local council housing teams, Porchlight, drug and alcohol services, day centre staff and other organisations working with people who are rough sleeping or living in temporary accommodation
- Physically and mentally able to engage in conversation and has consented to the referral.
Exclusion criteria
- Aged under 18
- Has a permanent place of residence
- Located outside of the catchment area
- Physically or mentally too unwell to engage in conversation, or does not consent.
Referrals can be emailed to kentchft.roughsleeper@nhs.net.