Locality Matters has supported Peabody over the past three years in the design and delivery of Positive Steps Thamesmead (PST).  PST is a programme run by Peabody operating predominantly in the eastern side of Thamesmead, SE London. The programme emerged through a realisation that c.40% of people visiting the main GP practice (Lakeside Medical Practice) were largely visiting because of non- biomedical factors.

The programme was supported with funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as well as City Bridge Trust (CBT). It was launched in April 2015 and aims to support local people by signposting them to different services that can address issues they may have. Typically, people are putting pressure on GP and other public sector services resulting from challenges they face, covering issues such as; housing, debt, immigration, access to benefits and food shortage.

Peabody’s approach has been to recruit a team of volunteers who are based at different locations across Thamesmead (the majority at the GP practice). These volunteers either have referred to them, or introduce themselves to, local people and ask if they would be happy to discuss their personal circumstances. This discussion involves going through a simple questionnaire which flags different services which might be helpful to the individual client. The client (if in agreement) is then referred to different agencies or partners who will meet or contact the client to gather more information and identify and deliver packages of support. The range of support is wide covering the breadth of advice providers.

The PST service draws heavily upon the Thamesmead Advice Providers Forum (APF). The APF was established prior to the launch of PST and is now the spine of the whole PST programme. Since its launch in April 2015, the PST service, through over 500 hours of volunteer time has met with over 1,250 clients. The service has made over 1,800 referrals to different partner organisations.

Summary of benefits

There are several different key stakeholder groups that are affected by the PST service.

STATUTORY PROVIDERS

The support for the PST programme, from different statutory providers is strong, covering: the Local GP Practice, LB Bexley, and Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Whilst it is too early to be definitive about the benefits generated from PST, there are certain areas where some clear evidence is emerging.

LOCAL PARTNERS

PST has provided an effective route for local people to be referred to local statutory and voluntary provision in volumes that would not have been achieved without the presence of PST volunteers at different sites. This has enabled significant uplift in the support these organisations can deliver to local people.

VOLUNTEERS

Since its launch it has recruited and trained 28 volunteers. Of these, 17 remain active volunteers in the programme. From interviews and a survey with volunteers it is clear they derive benefits from their involvement with the programme. Key areas being: the acquisition (through training and work) of skills that increase their employment prospects, a greater connection to their community, reducing loneliness and isolation for volunteers and the building of skills and confidence – in one case leading directly to a volunteer starting their own business.

CLIENTS

PST has seen over 1,250 clients. From responses to an online survey it can be seen that the experience of clients is overwhelmingly positive both in terms of how the service has affected their lives and their assessment of the service.

43% say the service has “made a huge difference to their lives”. 48% indicate it “has helped” with only 2% saying it “has been a waste of time”. Significantly, when asked what they would have done without PST 69% said “don’t know”. There is clearly an existing and ongoing demand for the support that PST provides.

FROM CLIENTS

91% of clients say PST has “helped” or has “made a huge difference”

FROM PARTNERS

One of the key measures is that PST has prevented at least seven households from being evicted (Source: CAB and Fair Finance).

 

FROM LAKESIDE

PST has potentially contributed to a significant reduction in the number of “Triaged consultations”. Triage consultations are telephone based consultations with a GP, provided where no appointment is available. They typically last five minutes, as opposed to ten minutes for a normal GP consultation. The fact that the practice is offering fewer “Triage Consultations” is an indication that they are reducing the backlog and latent demand for GP visits. Over a two-year period the average monthly reduction in triage consultations is 213 consultations per month. Lakeside Medical Practice estimate that each Triage consultations costs c.£30. On that basis, it can be argued that the practice is generating savings (or productivity gains) of £76,680 per year, a significant proportion of which is potentially attributable to PST.

 

Further information?

An interim report of the programme – Positive Steps Thamesmead  –  The story so far can be found here

“The support we’ve had from Locality Matters during the development and delivery of this project has been invaluable.  Their approach to working with statutory providers and local partners and their understanding of bring projects like this into fruition in local communities has been a critical component in the success of the project”

Paul Hines Head of Thamesmead Socio-Economic Regeneration