Birmingham, 13 & 14 April 2005 and 11 & 12 May 2005

SPECIAL MEMBER OFFER!! Members get 2004 prices on bookings received before March 31st

Course flyer (PDF)

Booking form (msword)

Introduction

A homeless person with multiple needs will typically present with three or more interrelated issues, ranging from mental health problems, substance misuse and challenging behaviours to borderline learning difficulties, disability or vulnerability because of age.

As you will be aware from your own experience, contact with service users who have multiple needs is a growing feature of the work of homelessness agencies.

Multiple needs: beneath the surface 2005 is a four-day specialist course bringing together the expertise of specialist trainers and speakers from the multiple needs field, with the commitment of participants and their managers, to offer a valuable training opportunity developed for the homelessness sector.

Overview and training benefits

Multiple needs: beneath the surface 2005 is a four day course consisting of two blocks of two-day training sessions over April and May 2005. The training will take place in the midlands region, allowing easy access from across the country.

Training method

Our specialist facilitators were rated as good or better by over 95% of 2004 attendees. This year we will bring together an even greater range of training methods including, for the first time, a visit to a flagship multiple needs project, to create a fully integrated learning experience.

Learning

In-depth knowledge provided by expert trainers and speakers will lead to a comprehensive understanding of key areas of work with people presenting with multiple needs.

Participation

Participants' own contribution of case material for discussion will form an integral component of the course, requiring commitment from all taking part. This will provide the opportunity to reflect on and share positive work practice and develop new ways of working.

Manager sign-up

All participants must be actively supported by their manager and organisation. Managers must commit to providing time for evidence gathering and be available to discuss how to put learning into practice in the workplace.

Who is the programme aimed at? This course is suitable for staff working in hostels, day centres, supported housing and other services for homeless people. Participants must have at least two years’ experience in working with homeless people with multiple needs and will also have attended basic training in working with substance use and mental health issues.

Timetable

Day one

What is multiple needs?

Pip Bevan, Homeless Link

Visit to Focus Multiple Needs Project

Day two

Specialist provision

Elmore Team, Oxford

Oxford Personality Disorder Service

Day three

Working with Drug Users with Multiple Needs

Speaker tbc

Day four

Managing in the mainstream

Mental health team, St Mungos, London

Specialist trainers

Leading the course are Catherine Hennessy, Homelessness Training Unit and independent trainer Mick Kain.

Catherine Hennessy is the manager of the Homelessness Training Unit and has worked with homeless people for over ten years. A qualified nurse and social worker, Catherine has a particular interest in mental health and homelessness.

Mick Kain's background is in the mental health field and particularly in therapeutic communities. Mick has ten years' experience as a manager and twelve years' experience of running training courses and mentoring employees.

By the end of the course participants will:

• be familiar with a working definition of multiple needs

• have learned about current responses to this client group within both the statutory and voluntary sector services
• have learned about the potential effects of working with people with multiple needs on both services and teams, and also the importance of support and supervision in this context
• have practiced and shared strategies for working with this user group in mainstream housing and day centre provision
• have the opportunity to reflect on their practice within a supportive group context.

Fees

Members £420*

*£400 if members book by March 31st

Non-members £550

Booking

Please compete a booking form and return to Homeless Link

As an email attachment to: johanna.taylor@homelesslink.org.uk

By post to: Johanna Taylor, Homeless Link, 10-13 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0RB

By fax to: 020 7960 3011

Contact

For more information please email Johanna Taylor Events & Training Administrator or call 020 7960 3030.

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