Health and Homelessness

Raising the Standards

Wednesday 26th September 2007

Scotland is widely recognised as having some of the most progressive policies for tackling homelessness in Europe. Our homelessness legislation, due for full implementation in 2012, homelessness strategies co-ordinated by local authorities combined with Health and Homelessness Standards for Health Boards together make a unique framework for action.

This conference provided a unique opportunity for all those with an interest in the health of people affected by homelessness to exchange ideas, make new contacts and, most importantly, drive forward better services for them.

Plenary speakers

• Stewart Maxwell, MSP - Minister for Communities and Sport

• Robert Aldridge, Director - Scottish Council for Single Homeless

• Tom Wood, Chair, Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (SAADAT) speaking on ‘How can ADATs integrate better with Health and Homelessness action plans?’

Workshop sessions

• Community Health Partnerships and Community Planning - making them work for homeless people Martin Moffat, Branch Head, Primary Care Development & Performance Management, Scottish Executive Health Department, Val Tweedie, Public Health Lead, Aberdeen City CHP and Janice Greig, Locality Development Co-ordinator, Glasgow Homelessness Partnership

• Social Networks - the role of informal support in assisting well-being Lesley Stenhouse, Forum Co-ordinator, Scottish Social Networks

• Changing Attitudes Towards Homeless People in Mainstream Services Iain Smith, Health and Homelessness Co-ordinator and Linda Wilson, Practice Nurse Manager, Edinburgh Homeless Practice, Edinburgh Community Health Partnership

• Health and Homelessness Standards - are they still fit for purpose? Sue Irving, Director of Business Development, Aberdeen Cyrenians and Robert Aldridge, Director, Scottish Council for Single Homeless

• Healthy Eating for Homeless People Dave Berry and Jeanie Collier, Good Food in Tackling Homelessness Programme, Edinburgh Cyrenians with Claire Street, Development Officer, Community Food & Health (Scotland)

• Integrating Addiction with Health and Homelessness Services Dr John Budd, NHS Lothian with members of the Substance Misuse Team, Edinburgh Homeless Practice

• Mainstream or Specialist Provision? The challenge for rural areas and moving people on Iver Forsyth, Inverness Day Centre, Mary Clunis, Community Psychiatric Nurse (Addictions) and Lisa Ross, Homeless Persons Nurse, NHS Highland

• Choose Life: how does suicide prevention link with the health and homelessness agenda? Ciara Byrne, Choose Life Development Officer, SAMH and Douggie Struthers, Health Development Officer, Blue Triangle Housing Association

• Healthy Care Networks Steven McCluskey, SIRCC

Download the full programme.

The Health and Homelessness conference took place at the Apex International Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh

The Health and Homelessness conference was a joint venture by SCSH and NHS Health Scotland.