Our Care & Support team provides over 300 accommodation, support and outreach services across England. We supported over 12,000 people in 2021/22.

Our approach to support

Following consultation with customers, colleagues and stakeholders, we have developed and launched our Approach to Support Policy. This outlines the principles we use in supporting customers across Care & Support and contains guidance and best practice into our ways of working including the use of strengths-based approaches and trauma informed care.

GROW training and employment programme

Our GROW (Giving Real Opportunities for Work) programme continues to provide training and employment to people with lived experience of multiple disadvantages. This includes but is not limited to; homelessness, the criminal justice system, mental ill-health and substance misuse.

Lockdown provided an opportunity to review the GROW offer which included consultations with customers and colleagues, including current and former GROWs, and a peer review exercise with external providers including Shelter, St Mungo’s and Thames Reach.

Following Board approval, the new offer introduces a person-centred approach with pre-employment support, a flexible training offer, structured support and the ability to lone work. The salary has also been increased from Minimum Wage to Living Wage.