Innovation in Practice
INTRODUCTION
From its inception in 1989, Tulip pioneered the
development of innovative service models adapted to meet the needs of a
very diverse client group with a specific focus on those who were
underserved or hard to reach.
Specialist services were designed to address the
needs of homeless people, women, the elderly, as well as people with
dementia.
These developments were firmly rooted in the
partnership ethos which had influenced Tulip’s formation. Partners
included housing associations, health and local authorities, local
colleges and other voluntary organisations.
SPECIALIST
SERVICES WITH A FOCUS ON BME COMMUNITIES
The Outreach
and Development Team provided intensive care and support in supported housing to service
users discharged from long-stay hospitals. The service enabled people
previously thought incapable of living anywhere other than in an
institution, to develop the skills and confidence for independent living.
The service also worked with people who were homeless or at risk of being
homeless due to their mental health difficulties, focusing on BME service
users from the African Caribbean community.
The Haringey
Assertive Outreach Service was the first of its kind in the UK, adapting, developing and pioneering
the model of Assertive Community Treatment from the USA, establishing the
first UK Assertive Outreach Service. Using the Team Approach and a
psycho-dynamic perspective, the service worked with those hardest to reach
and engage, who had become lost to mainstream mental health services. The
majority of services users were from BME communities with multiple
hospital admissions. The service had a significant impact on bed use, was
recognised in the National Service Framework and was the forerunner of the
Assertive Outreach teams now established across the country.
SPECIALIST
SERVICES WITH A FOCUS ON WOMEN
Whittington
Road was
a residential care group home for 5 women leaving long-stay hospital. It
focussed on older women, most of whom had not lived outside a hospital
environment for 20 to 30 years. The service provided once again, for these
forgotten women, the opportunity to live in a home environment and
re-discover their lost skills, their dignity and their self-respect.
Fortis Green
Fortis Green
– Self Harm service was a residential care home for 6 women with border-line personality
disorders who presented with challenging behaviour and were at great risk
of self-harming. The scheme adapted the principles of therapeutic
communities in its service model, to enable the therapeutic environment
and the potential strengths of peer support to be a cornerstone of
recovery.
SPECIALIST
SERVICES WITH A FOCUS ON THE OLDER POPULATION
Fortis Green
– Complex / Multiple needs was a residential care group home for 6 residents who had previously
lived in long- stay hospitals. The team worked with frail and elderly
people, including those experiencing mobility difficulties or physical
disabilities. The service worked in such a way as to maintain as great a
level of independence as possible, whilst providing a level of care that
would otherwise have been provided in a nursing home.
The Dementia
Service offered
intensive outreach support to 45 people living with Alzheimer’s disease
and dementias, advocating on their behalf and co-ordinating necessary
services. Recognising the paramount importance of carers in the lives of
people living with Dementia and providing carers with support and advice
was a cornerstone of the service.
SPECIALIST DAY
AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
The Bridge operated
along the “Clubhouse” model, and provided a work-ordered day and
meaningful activities and learning opportunities. It was run via a true
partnership between staff and service users, with service users equally
involved in all decision-making in the operation of the service. Service
users gained real experience in market-based skills including petty cash,
book-keeping, admin and clerical, catering, fundraising and gardening.
Opening of The
Bridge
Newham
Community Services provided community services via groups, drop-ins, programmed activities
and lunch clubs, this service crucially operated at times other services
were closed, during the evenings and at weekends. In addition, the service
was funded to provide culturally-specific services to the sizeable
minority ethnic populations in Newham.
Newham
Community Services
TRAINING AND
CONSULTANCY
National and
Local
Tulip worked with the Tavistock Clinic over several
years, gaining knowledge and expertise in the dynamics underpinning
organisational development. In addition to the experience gained in
setting up innovative services, this led to the development of Tulip’s
Consultancy Service. This focussed on assisting organisations to meet
their strategic objectives, conflict resolution and service policy
development. Clients included The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health,
Department of Health, Living Space, Middlesex University and African
Caribbean Resource Centre.
In partnership with Teesside University, Tulip
pioneered the delivery of an accredited certificated course in
multidisciplinary working within an Assertive Outreach Team. The course
attracted participants from a range of professional disciplines including
nursing, social work and psychology who were attracted by the opportunity
to have a sound knowledge base within the field which was firmly rooted in
practice. Modules were run in London, Durham and Teesside.
On Site Visits
Following recognition within the National Service
Framework, Tulip delivered several consultation visits via on site work,
attracting teams from all across England. This also included placements
from other voluntary organisations interested in assertive outreach models
such as the Brent Assertive Outreach Team and Impact in Hammersmith and
Fulham.
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