This needs assessment reviews the care, management and discharge of people who are homeless at the Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust and City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health run by the East London Foundation Trust.

The needs assessment was commissioned by the Better Care Fund of NHS City and Hackney CCG and London Borough of Hackney, and supported by the Integrated Discharge Planning Group.

This was completed between December 2019 and March 2020. Quantitative and qualitative data was gathered and analysed, including 26 interviews with relevant staff.

Themes were developed from the interviews and needs identified. In order to address these needs, the following recommendations were made:

  1. Set up a Pathway in-reach team
  2. Implement a multidisciplinary homelessness team meeting
  3. Set up outreach provision to enhance community support
  4. Explore options for a step-up/step-down facility
  5. Design and implement a staff education programme