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Rough sleepers

Worcester Cares: Helping people off the street

If you visit, live or work in Worcester City, you will sometimes see people on the street. Some sleeping rough, in shop doorways or along the river, some are drinking excessively in the City centre, and others are begging – occasionally aggressively. Each needs help, whether they belong to only one or all three of these groups.

Our city does not want to demonise people on the street for the situation the find themselves in. Now charities and services from across the City have come together to help people you see on the street.

We know many who live and work in Worcester City, as well as many tourists and visitors, are compassionate people who want to help but are not sure how to. Worcester Cares is a united umbrella approach, which helps all the charities, and support services coordinate their work.

Here is what you can now do to help and be part of Worcester Cares;

Tell us

Tell us about someone by using Street Link. By using thestreetlink.org.uk, you can note down the place or street a person is and we can send someone to see him or her. 

Tell them

Explain to the person that there are charities, churches and services in the City where they can get help. Magg’s Day Centre, St Paul’s Hostel and Caring for Communities (CCP) have experienced and trained staff who know what to do. Tell them to visit The Hive and the City Council staff will help them make the connection.

Donate to Worcester Cares

Help people off the street by supporting those charities who can support them. A small donation makes an enormous difference. £2 would pay for a meal. £5 would provide services to get someone off the street. Donate £2 by texting WORC02 or £5 by texting WORC05 to 70070

Volunteer for one of the Worcester Cares charities or services.

The charities in Worcester who work with people on the street have many different opportunities to volunteer time to help. Visit the websites of Maggs Day Centre, CCP or St Paul’s Hostel to find out more.

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol

The City Council in partnership with the local authorities across Worcestershire operates a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). During the coldest months of the year if the temperature is forecast to be zero degrees or less then an emergency shelter is opened at the local Salvation Army. Professional and trained staff from CCP are on hand throughout the night to ensure the shelter is a warm and safe space to stay. Support is on hand from CCP and partners to help those who wish to explore longer term accommodation options and connect them with the support they need. 

Outreach Team

Maggs Day Centre delivers a year round outreach service for rough sleepers across Worcestershire. Their highly skilled staff ensures welfare checks take place with those who rough sleep and provide daily outreach walks to spots to where rough sleepers are known to be. They work hard to provide support and access other services and ultimately support the individual into a home they can call their own.

Worcestershire Adult Safeguarding Board

The Adult Safeguarding Board coordinates local work to ensure that adults with care and support needs across Worcestershire are protected from harm and abuse.  The Board has developed a Self-Neglect Policy which recognises Homelessness and Rough Sleeping as a form of self-neglect.

In the event of the death of a person sleeping rough, a Rapid Review will be undertaken. A Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) referral should be submitted using the SAR referral form  and a Rapid Review will then be held. 

A member of Healthwatch will be invited to join the Rapid Review panel as an observer to ensure transparency and accountability. 

The Rapid Review will consider how agencies worked together to support the deceased person and whether the SAR criteria have been met.

Where the relevant criteria are met, a full SAR will be undertaken in line with the Worcestershire Adult Safeguarding Board protocol. 

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