'Floating support': implications for interprofessional working

Abstract

This article describes a floating support scheme, provided by a local housing association, which enables single vulnerable people to live independently in their own homes. The study aimed to explore the impact of the scheme from the perspectives of clients, floating support workers and representatives from health, social care and voluntary agencies. It was found that the majority of clients had long-term mental health problems and were supported by a range of professionals. Floating support was flexible in responding to individual needs. A number of themes of relevance to interprofessional working emerged from the data. These included: floating support as a community resource, links with other agencies and confidentiality, information sharing and risk management. Floating support workers worked closely with professionals from health, social care, voluntary and educational services. Although the scheme's contribution to client care was highly valued, a number of barriers to effective interagency working were evident. This study highlighted the need for discussion and presented a forum for developing an ongoing collaborative process to address the specific issues which emerged in focus group discussions.

The contribution of housing support workers to joined-up services

“…Attention initially focused on the role of housing adaptation and the development of independent living as a means of enabling specific groups of people to live independently in the community (Means et al, 2003). Over time a range of housing options such as shared homes and individual tenancies have emerged (Fyson et al, 2007) whilst a more holistic notion of ''housing support'' has developed which encompasses the provision of ''welfare care'' designed to enable people to live on their own (Sharples et al, 2002). The housing support worker has evolved as a means to provide this support.…”

“…The role of the housing support or tenancy support worker involves developing and maintaining support plans, supporting clients to access relevant housing and welfare benefits and promoting independent living skills -such as budget and tenancy management. Crucially the role involves the worker liaising with other agencies in order that the client has access to relevant support services (Sharples et al, 2002), performing what Morris has referred to as a brokerage role (Morris, 1995). Depending on the focus of the service this could involve liaising with health care services such as drug and alcohol services and criminal justice agencies such as Youth Offending Teams.…”

“…It includes both accommodation based support and non-accommodation based services (Mullins & Murie, 2006), often referred to as floating support (Sharples et al, 2002). The role of the housing support or tenancy support worker involves developing and maintaining support plans, supporting clients to access relevant housing and welfare benefits and promoting independent living skills -such as budget and tenancy management.…”

Partnership working: a policy with promise for mental healthcare

“…Many people who fulfil these roles come from the the voluntary sector (Sharples et al, 2002). The development of these new roles and increasing emphasis on partnership working across the NHS and voluntary agencies present a number of challenges surrounding effective accountability (such as performance management, risk management and disciplinary matters) owing to differing policies and procedures within each sector (Audit Commission, 2005).…”

“…The dilemma of disseminating information across agencies has been well documented as a barrier to partnership working (Secker & Hill, 2001). Regular discussions and agreements between clients (patients) and professionals involved in crossagency work about the extent of information that can be shared is both an example of good practice and a possible solution to the challenge of informationsharing (Sharples et al, 2002). Where statutory services and voluntary sector organisations are working in partnership all parties must ensure that service users can entrust their personal information to them: it must be kept confidential and used only for the purposes agreed at the outset and explicit consent must be obtained for sharing information for nonhealthcare reasons (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2006a).…”