Season 6, Episode 5
How Homes not Hospitals works from a social work and housing perspective
For our latest podcast, we were delighted to have the opportunity to talk with Fiona Charnock, a Senior Project Manager with NHS Greater Manchester, and Jane Bellwood, who at the time was NHS Regional Housing Lead.
It was fantastic to hear from their perspective the different it makes to people who are able to move out of long-stay hospital, and also to understand all the complex logistics and negotiations that go into every single person's situation.
Fiona and Jane tell us about everything from how they judge when a person is ready for life in the community, to finding the right accommodation and the right provider, to the interactions needed between people, families, clinicians, housing associations, providers and everything else that goes into creating a better life for people.
They also explain how they do things a little differently in Greater Manchester, with a larger framework which cuts through some of the previous red tape.
It was so interesting to hear about the entire process from a social work and housing perspective, and to realise just what a complicated jigsaw it is to get just one person out of long-stay hospital.
And as Fiona says about this positive impact on people's lives:
It is incredible really. It is such a privilege.
This is essential listening for anyone who wants to know more about everything that needs to be taken into account in bringing people home.
