In addition to supported housing accommodation the Trust provides the following services:
SINGLE SHARED ASSESSMENT (SSA)
The Highland Homeless Trust provides Service Users with the opportunity to develop a Single Shared Assessment.
What is a Single Shared Assessment?
A Single Shared Assessment is a plan to structure the support provided to Service Users. The assessment asks the Service User a number of questions e.g. are you working with any agencies, what are your health and personal needs etc. to gather the information required to develop an appropriate service plan for the individual.
Why have a Single Shared Assessment?
Everyone who receives support from the Trust is able to complete a comprehensive assessment of their needs. A copy of the assessment form is shared with colleagues in other services, e.g. Health, Housing and Property Service, Social Work etc. Sharing information in this way allows the needs of Service Clients to be met more effectively.
How do I get an Assessment?
Anyone interested in developing a SSA should speak to their Support Worker, or any other staff member of the Highland Homeless Trust, who will be happy to assist with a request.
Outreach Support
The Highland Homeless Trust works to promote independence through the provision of a range of services including supported accommodation and Outreach Services. The Trust’s Outreach Services are provided by dedicated and qualified staff who work directly with Service Users to:
- Promote personal safety and security
- Manage household budgets
- Develop independent living ad basic domestic skills
- Manage benefit applications
- Develop social support networks
- Access leisure and social activities
- Provide emotional support
- Develop social skills to combat the effects of social exclusion
- Maintain tenancies.
The Highland Homeless Trust provides Outreach Services 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year and operates to support several hundred people manage and maintain their home.
Click here to download the Outreach Support Referral
Form 1
The Social Club
The Social Club, which is based at the Day Centre, 1 Waterloo Place, Inverness.
The Social Club is open to anyone who is sleeping rough or going through the homelessness process.
The Social Club operates every evening from 6.00pm - 8.15pm
At the Social Club you will find a warm welcome to an evening of organised activities such as quiz night, karaoke night, DVD night. A cup of tea and sandwiches will be provided during the evening for regular clients.
During opening hours access will be available to a range of facilities such as warm bedding, clothing, toiletries and provides a point of contact for out of hours services such as dentist, doctor, CPN and direct contact with accommodation officers.
Assistance from the Inverness Common Good Fund and The Robertson Trust the Social Club is now open seven nights per week.
Meeting Room Facilities
The Trust can offer access to a meeting with theatre style seating for up to 30 people. We can also provide presentation equipment.
Click here to download the booking form >
Active Referral Scheme
Highland Homeless Trust, with support from NHS Highland and the Highland Council has recently been supporting members of the homeless community in Inverness to engage in health enhancing physical activity.The Scheme allows individuals to have an initial fitness assessment with qualified professionals from the Aquadome in Inverness, and then to embark on a structured programme of activities. There are a wide range of activity choices available, including gym training, hill-walking, fishing and football.
The Scheme works to provide members of the homeless community with access to sporting and social activities. The Scheme which runs in partnership with NHS Highland and Caledonia Community Leisure Ltd, demonstrates that people from all sections of our community can benefit from exercise when they are given appropriate support to make positive choices about how they wish to live their life. The Scheme is an excellent example of what can be achieved when organisations work together to improve the situation of those experiencing social disadvantages and works to build positive relationships, which will hopefully challenge many mis-conceptions relating to those experiencing homelessness.
As well as the obvious physical benefits of being more active, participants can benefit from increased self-esteem and confidence, improved personal motiviation and life-skills, social networking and support and reduction of stress and isolation.
Up to September 2010 approximately 220 individuals were referred to the Scheme, leading to around 70 individual actively participating in sporting and leisure activities. Support Workers from the Trust guide and assist participants throughout the programme. During 2010 three football players from the Scheme's football team were selected to take part in trials for Scotland's Homeless World Cup bid in Rio in September 2010. One of these players successfully made the squad and for the first time a player from the Highlands will represent Scotland in this event.
If you would like more information about the Scheme please contact the Trust on email office@homelesstrust.org.uk
Work Club
Gateway HHT's Work Club offers members who have been homeless or who are currently homeless a range of pre-employment training, events and activities to encourage and enable them to access appropriate job opportunities. These activities will include Job Journey Planning, Interview Skills, CV Writing Workshops, IT Skills Workshops, Careers Talks and Volunteering Opportunities.
The purpose of the Work Club is to give members a place to meet, share skills, make contacts and enable members to share other job hunting experiences, and to encourage each individual in their job search. The Work Club operates in a manner that will meet the needs of the specific client group to whom it is targeted. Member participation is encouraged throughout the session.
The Work Club meets over a session of 12 fortnightly meetings held at Gateway HHT's offices at 57 Church Street, Inverness on a Tuesday afternoon at 2pm.
If you would like to attend the Work Club sessions please email office@homelesstrust.org.uk for further information.