Introduction to Homelessness

This one day training workshop is particularly suitable for volunteers, clergy, and people with an interest in homelessness. It is also appropriate for people new to working in the field.

Contents

An Overview of Homelessness
An introduction to homelessness law, practice, policy and context. Participants will learn about homelessness legislation and basic advocacy work, including the tests Local Authorities use to assess what duty they have to homeless applicants.
Also outlines the different roles of the voluntary sector.

Mental Health Awareness
Participants will gain awareness of the definitions and characteristic symptoms of all the major mental health diagnoses, together with an introduction to the different models of treatment, and an overview of services for homeless people with poor mental health.

Drugs and Alcohol Awareness
This session will help participants to understand the main issues to be aware of in working with people who are dependent on alcohol and/or other substances. Participants will learn how to recognise illegal drugs and their paraphernalia, and know about the main groups of substances and their effects. Also covers the legal responsibilities of staff and volunteers and health and safety good practice.

Dealing with Conflict
This session starts with the recognition that a service’s design, ethos, policies and guidelines, as well as some awareness of “conflict triggers” will provide the best safeguards. This session will offer some basic guidelines and boundaries for safe and effective working with people using challenging behaviour, such as verbal aggression or the threat of physical violence.