We’re going to be running a new feature where we talk to our members of staff about their work at SSJ and why they love working here.

We have hundreds of members of staff from unique and interesting backgrounds, some have been with us for years, others have come to us because they believe in our vision to end homelessness – and some have been service users for SSJ and now work with us to support others in a similar situation to what they were in.

Today we have a blog written by Sean Smith, a team leader for SSJ who works with some of of the most vulnerable people at SSJ. Sean has been with us a few years and wanted to write about why he loves working for SSJ.

Sean Smith:

I have worked with a variety of vulnerable adults and children across Hampshire for 22 years. After frequently working in partnership with them for many of these years, in 2019 I was lucky enough to land myself a job with the Society of St James. I had applied for positions previously, and it was no secret to my now-boss that I had been desperate to join him at SSJ for aeons, but hadn’t found the right vacancy that suited my skillset and experience.

All of a sudden, the chance to take the reins of a pioneering “housing first”-style service came to my attention. It was a no brainer and I applied. Getting the phone call to tell me I was successful was a moment of sheer elation. Next thing I knew, I was working for an inclusive, supportive charity that felt more like a family or a group of old friends than what I had experienced previously. Then, of course, the entire world went bonkers and we all faced a two-year period the likes of which we could have never imagined.

Throughout the uncertain, often desolate, always challenging pandemic period, I was privileged to be tasked with guiding and building the Supported Lettings Team, which provides intense, almost bespoke, psychologically and trauma-informed support for clients with long, chequered histories of homelessness, complex substance misuse and mental illness. I had moved from a businesslike, politics driven prior role to one where I looked forward to waking up each day to find out what the day held in store, working alongside and hopefully helping to nurture a team of dedicated, talented and hardworking staff.

The pandemic was a challenge we all met head-on, and gave me and my team some work experiences that we will probably never encounter again. Having to face scowling faced members of the public as we bulk shopped dry goods for our clients in supermarkets. Driving around the City trying to find hand sanitiser. Finding hand sanitiser that was made from a premium brand of gin.

Administering so may lateral flow tests that I could probably now do one with a blindfold on. Attempting to try and enforce a litany of social distancing rules and regulations with clients that have no intention of following protocols. Discovering the magical, buffering-tastic hinterland that is the online meeting. I loved it all really. I wouldn’t want to do it all again though.

I was privileged to be tasked with establishing not one but two brand new services for the Society, which are still going strong and in the case of the Supported Lettings Team, have expanded. I have had an amazing opportunity to work with some of the most unique, complex and rewarding clients. I now have some fascinating partnership working with a specialist NHS team, and work within a sector and with clients that very few people ever get to experience.

I am based in a beautiful house that has been developed and renovated with an eye on providing a homely, psychologically informed environment. I am seeing positive results. I see amazing staff doing amazing things with people that have gone through unimaginable trauma in their lives. I am so proud to be a part of it. Every day is different – I continue to encounter learning opportunities and am broadening my knowledge and experience at every turn, supported by a wonderful staff and a supportive management structure.

Coming to work for SSJ is the best decision I ever made. I am now in a role that combines all of my previous experiences, with the added responsibility of guiding and supporting other staff. With the successful tenders and expansion within Hampshire and beyond, I work for an organisation that I am genuinely proud of, and will happily sing the praises of each and every service under its umbrella from the rooftops.

Thank you to Sean for taking time to write about his work at SSJ

There are many ways to support SSJ, you can donate to help support people without a home, find out more about other ways you can support us, or if you are like Sean, maybe you’d like to work for SSJ – and you can find out about jobs we have available here.

We love telling you about those at St James Care who have something unique, a talent, a dream, or even a story.

This past week we spoke to Rodney, a cartoonist – who went to university in Winchester, before moving to Nottingham where he worked for the Nottingham Post for many years.

During our time with Rodney, we learned that he was making a caricature of the Queen, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee – but he also told us about his time at St James care, how it makes him feel alive, that it gives him reason to live – and how his creative juices flow at all hours of the day and night.

It was a great pleasure being able to talk to Rodney – and the video, including his creation of the Queen and a Corgi, is below.

We hope you will enjoy this as much as we did.

Our care homes are an integral part of our support services; working with people with alcohol dependency as well as complex mental health needs, we provide both long-term care and specialist, intensive respite. Dom was one of our residents. He was at Linden House for a short period of time and we want to share his story as part of the build-up to our 50^th anniversary in 2022.

Dom came to live at Linden for a short time after being in hospital – he had become poorly, could not look after himself so well anymore, he needed a place to stay to recuperate and have support to get back on his feet.  I caught up with Dom on the last few days of his stay at Linden House, he let me know –

‘’I felt down and depressed, hit rock bottom and the only way was up and I got a place at St James Care at Linden House after being in hospital.

“It was a bit strange at first, I felt a bit odd, I felt like I wanted to leave, but I spoke to my social worker and she came out to see me, I felt better then. I’m just not used to people, but it was only like that for the first few days.

“I started to get to know people and staff chatted with me and helped me. Staff started to take me to the chemist to get my prescriptions, they were very kind, easy to speak to, I opened up more and more.  I could just get on, I took small steps at a time, staff helped me to go shopping too and I helped in return around the home, I really enjoy doing things like helping others, I got on with everyone there.

“I got back my dignity and pride. And now I’m looking forward to going back to my flat. Everyone at St James Care has helped me get back on my feet again, I’m really grateful, it’s the honest truth”.

All at Linden House will miss Dom’s bubbly, lively character, how he was always looking out for everyone around him. Dom was also supported throughout his stay by Callum from Two Saints and by CGL, and his Social Worker Sarah, who had thanked staff for how much difference they had made to Dom’s life with the support they had given.

Everyone pulled together to help him overcome complications with his health and medications, his finances and generally looking after himself.  We wish Dom well in the future and he’s hoping to return to Linden House to see us soon.

Debs – Senior Shift Leader at Linden House

Photos: With Lyn – Support Worker – With some of the staff, saying thank you and goodbye!
With Callum Intensive Support Worker from Two Saints, – leaving Linden House

Liam Crook has been talking to Project Worker Elizabeth Judkins about his journey to recovery and the part SSJ played in his recovery as part of our ’ 50 stories’ series.

Colleagues at North Lane Lodge are immensely proud of the dedication Liam has shown towards his own recovery since he walked into the SSJ office in early 2020 and said “I need help”. Liam’s life is now unrecognisable having been sober for 15 months; he is enjoying volunteering and is waiting to be given the keys to his own rented flat.

Liam’s story demonstrates how routes into homelessness and addiction are not always as obvious as we might think. Liam describes his childhood as ‘good’ but believes things started to go wrong for him after a diagnosis of epilepsy at 13 years of age “I thought I was going to end up in a wheelchair” Liam told Elizabeth during a very emotional interview.

From here things started to go downhill rapidly as Liam began to smoke cannabis, moving onto the class B drug, amphetamine (“speed”) at the age of 15 and later smoking crack. Since then Liam has been in prison 5 times and in between times developed an alcohol dependency that saw him drinking up to 2 litres of vodka a day. Liam told Elizabeth “I was getting the shakes and sweats, wasn’t taking my tablets, was fitting a lot and was in and out of hospital three times a week, drinking hand wash in the hospital because it was pure alcohol”. He reflects that he feels sorry now “for the people that had to watch me fitting in the street…I proper damaged my body, my epilepsy got really bad and I was on so much medication”.

In late 2019 Liam was given a room at SSJ’s North Lane Lodge hostel in Aldershot which exists, in partnership with Rushmoor Borough Council, to support men with complex issues who would otherwise be street homeless. On entering the Lodge Liam went back to drinking and smoking crack almost immediately leading to regular seizures. It was only after waking up on the floor one day did Liam march into the SSJ office and announce ‘I need help’. From that point onwards he and his keyworker Hannah were able to develop a therapeutic relationship that has helped turn Liam’s life around.

Hannah tells us about Liam’s journey to recovery from her perspective…

“After a few support sessions Liam was able to start identifying some of his triggers that led him to drink heavily, we attended regular doctors’ appointments for his epilepsy and medication changes. Liam decided he would like to try an AA meeting and we attended the first session with Liam. After that he attended regularly on his own and engaged with the Lodge staff to safely cut down his drinking. Not long afterwards Liam became sober with the support of a great sponsor and the lodge staff.

“Liam reconnected with his father and grandmother with whom he hadn’t had contact for a few years and took on a volunteering job at the local military museum which helped to build his confidence and people skills. “Liam started to stabilise his life and was always consistent with his rent payments which meant that we could find him slightly more independent accommodation. He continued to grow in confidence and is so proud of what he has overcome with no intention of going backwards.

Liam sent an emotional message of thanks to Hannah in his interview saying “Hannah I wouldn’t be where I am without your help over the last few months, you helped me achieve my goal of being clean and sober. I’m hugely grateful and will be for the rest of my life”

You can help us to help others like Liam to fulfil their potential in your community by donating whatever you can. Your donations ensure that we can provide the environment and inspiration to get to that ‘I need help’ point where lives can really start to change for the better. We use funding for motivational activities that build confidence and items that help individuals move on like a new suit to attend an interview

We wish Liam the best of luck in his new flat and look forward to hearing of his future successes.

Do you have any stories or an association with SSJ, perhaps as a supporter, ex staff member or even a service user? We would love to hear from you for our 50th anniversary. Email, Dennis.Jones@SSJ.org.uk

Re-Cycle Bikes is a Southampton based bike recycling workshop that is run by volunteers. We aim to sell and services bikes at affordable prices and allow people to volunteer from both the community and via Homeless services.

For many homeless people, paid work is not an immediate option as it is too far of a jump from the chaotic nature of their current life styles. A person needs to move through a series of steps, starting with activities that have purpose and direction. This would lead on to skills and disciplines required for formal paid work. This is where the Recycle Bike work shop enables people to engage in a work place setting without the pressure of paid work. It also develops skills required for paid work.

Participation in activities can offer many benefits to people recovering from Homelessness. Activities can add structure to people’s days, helping them to develop confidence, self-esteem and social skills, as well as skill that may increase their employability and readiness for work. Activities can be instrumental in reducing feelings of boredom and loneliness and can act as a catalyst, motivating people to make positive changes. Perhaps most importantly, activities can greatly improve well-being and quality of life for individuals who may have experienced extremely traumatic events or be faced with a great deal of stress.

Case Study

Recycle has been operating within Southampton for over 9 years. In that 9 years of working within Southampton, Re-cycle has built partnerships with Sustrans, My Journey, Hampshire Police, British Red Cross, Solent University, Re-fit and Saints for Sports to name a few. 

Recycle Bikes offers learning and training opportunities for the service users of the Society of St James and volunteers from the wider community to help grow and sustain the use of bicycles as transport.

Leroy has been volunteering for the past year and has also struggled to how down a job due to his mental health. He can come and go without pressure and able to engage with support should he need it in crisis. “Volunteering at recycle bikes has saved me many times from myself and enables me be work outside on my own and focus on something I enjoy.”

Donald was initially a customer who came to the scheme to buy a bike as he had very little income. He was interested in bikes but had learning difficulties and came away from school with no qualifications and limited job opportunities. This was 5 years ago now and he is a fully CyTech trained and runs the workshop alongside the Service Manager. “I feel part of a team and it has helped my confidence with the public. I feel valued and have completed courses to gain knowledge and it’s given me a purpose in life.” 

 How you can help:

You can donate your old bikes to Re-Cycle bikes by emailing recycle.bikes@ssj.org.uk 

And if you are looking for a bike to use this year, why not buy one of the refurbished bikes and help support Re-Cycle Bikes to improve the lives of our service users.

You can also make contact by visiting their Facebook page.

A day with The Society of St James’ Homeless Day Services

First Impressions

On an overcast Monday morning I find myself walking along Milton Road – a long, busy main road that leads to St Mary’s Hospital. I’m trying to find the Homeless Day Services centre, where I’ve volunteered to spend the day and write about for the Society of St James. According to Google maps, it’s a twelve-minute drive from Gunwharf Quays – Portsmouth’s popular shopping and dining centre – but Milton feels a long way from the hustle and bustle of socialising and bargain hunting. But where exactly are the Homeless Day Services located? I think I’m lost.

I walk past a nondescript door set into high redbrick walls, not giving it a second look as I search for my destination. Before I know it I’m at the hospital and I’ve missed where I need to be. I scan Google maps again and find myself having to retrace my steps back to that door, which had been so easy to miss. So easy to walk right past. But this time, when I approach, I see two men dressed in jeans and sweatshirts pressing a buzzer to be let in and I guess this is the place.

And that’s my first impression of Homeless Day Service. Just like the people they help, they are easy to miss. But take the time to stop and really look and you might find something extraordinary. And that’s what I came away with after spending the day here; an appreciation for the unseen extraordinary work that goes on right under our noses.

The Centre

Inside the red brick building I’m introduced to Jordan, who gives me a warm welcome and invites me on a tour of the facilities and services. The first thing I find is that The Society of St James‘ Homeless Day Services operate out of just one long corridor. Rooms lead off left and right to various rooms: the reception, offices, recreational area (where breakfast is available until 11am), kitchen/laundry area, assessment rooms, locker room, toilet and shower block.

It’s narrow and when there are more than three of you everyone has to squeeze by one other. Jordan tells me that about 60 people will come and go throughout the day and most of these (around 50) are at the centre first thing, between 8 and 9am, when they arrive to access services and try to get a bed for the night. I was asked to arrive at 10am, so I miss the rush and can only guess what it’s like trying to support so many people within this small passageway. And there’s only five members of staff.

It’s reasonably quiet while I’m there, save for one short yet heated confrontation between two service users that I witness just before I’m due to leave. But seeing this encounter is enough for me to realise that the staff here are doing their job in often fraught situations, as they try to help individuals living in the most chaotic and difficult conditions.

Facilities and Services

On the tour I learn about all the different ways the service helps those coming through the door each day. First and foremost, there’s the work finding beds for the night which are provided by the night shelters and become available from 9pm. Anyone new is assessed, which takes around fifteen minutes and aims to pinpoint what specific and immediate help they need. It involves some form-filling, but these assessments will link people to essential services. And it’s the start of a relationship aimed at understanding what an individual needs and making sure they get the right support. I find out that people are referred to them by outreach programmes, the local authority, the hospital, other services or they come direct after reading about them on the internet.

One of the main purposes of the centre is to help homeless people meet day-to-day basic needs that most of us take for granted. It’s where you can eat breakfast, take a shower and use the toilet. There are washing machines for doing laundry as well, which are in constant use and fill the place with the soapy smell of washing powder. Individuals are assigned lockers to keep personal items. If none are free, things are stored in reception or the office – anywhere there’s space.

In the kitchen there’s a fridge and cupboards with a few items of mostly donated food, from places like Sainsbury’s and Lidl. There’s a paved yard at the back with benches and hanging flower baskets where people can hang out, chat and smoke. It’s near Hope House the night shelter, but there’s standard residential homes nearby too. When I ask about any issues with neighbours I’m told that there are complaints about noise sometimes. But this doesn’t strike me as any different from most neighbourhoods, especially those with a high student population.

I’m shown a room where they store donated clothes and opposite that there’s the well-being room – a quiet place where people can go to be alone, get some space and have a rare moment of peace. We’re being ever so quiet because inside a man is sleeping. I think about how easy it is for me to find a quiet and safe space to sleep every night compared to this person, who has this one rare opportunity to experience the same.

Treatments

Jordan tells me that the dentist, doctor and foot specialist are regulars at the centre, helping people with basic health care. There’s also a clean needle exchange offered too. This can be a contentious issue, but there’s a strict rule about not using drugs at the centre. The exchange helps users stay safe and also enables staff to assess how much individuals are taking. I learn about the Recovering Hub, which comes once a week and offers alternative therapies, and the ReFit centre where service users can take part in activities like biking, boxing or archery. Jordan explains how these therapies and exercises help improve fitness and well-being, and create a routine; an important step in getting back on track.

Stories and Issues

During the tour I discover more about Jordan’s story. He’s 29, has been at the centre for 10 months and worked in the construction industry for 13 years before deciding to change careers. I later discover that Bev, who currently runs the centre, is his mum. And it makes sense that seeing a parent dedicate their life to the welfare of others would be fantastic inspiration.

It’s Bev who explains to me how homeless people are required to build up what’s called a ‘local connection’. That this means having to be in one place for a period of time before being able to access benefits and services. And this is why it’s difficult for anyone from outside an area to get what they need to move forward and why they often need help from Homeless Day Services.

Bev explains to me that most service users have complex mental and physical health problems and these issues can make simple tasks very difficult. But it’s the small successes – like seeing someone learn to cook pasta or make a phone call – that give her and her staff so much satisfaction. However, alongside these victories are the constant challenges. I hear a story about a woman who came in one time and spent the entire day in a highly agitated state, shouting non-stop. It was disturbing for everyone and she was obviously in need of help. But because she knew who she was and wasn’t posing a risk to herself or others, she couldn’t be sectioned and receive the care she needed. Instead she was left at the centre. But with no mental health training it’s tough on staff and stressful for other service users. So I’m unsurprised to learn that staff turnover is high. However, Bev remains optimistic. She feels, that to work in a place like this, you just need to care – that everything else can be taught.

Someone who fits that description is Michelle. She’s a 20-year-old social work student in her final year at Portsmouth University who is at the centre on placement. She helps with all kinds of tasks, such as assisting with CVs and job applications. She says, before she started, she was worried that the people who use the centre would be aggressive and moody. And how, in reality, everyone has been nice and welcoming. It’s a lovely example of how first-hand experience can dispel common myths and prejudices.

And then there’s Brad, who’s popped in from the night shelter where he works. He tells me his story, about how he became homeless after getting heavily into drugs and how staff at the centre helped him get back on his feet. He believes everyone can get off drugs and out of homelessness, but admits it’s a long road and less likely to happen without the help of services like these. Brad’s story is inspiring and it’s amazing to see how he’s turned his life around. But it’s speaking to some of the people in the centre who are still very much at the start of the journey, that makes it clear to me just how important these services are.

Like Lloyd, who’s 53 and been homeless for about a year. Who tells me how his son committed suicide earlier in the year, that he had to get away from where he lived after a run-in with neighbours dealing drugs and how a spine injury is giving him constant pain. And 28-year-old Emanuel, from Portugal, who desperately wants to find work but is struggling with complex mental health issues and needs regular medication. I can’t begin to understand what it would be like to deal with just one of these issues from the safety of my own home, let alone imagine what it’s like to experience these troubles while homeless.

Listening to everyone’s stories, from the staff and volunteers to those who need the support, it’s clear that these services are not just important, they’re life-saving. I leave the centre that day with a greater appreciation for the work that goes into helping vulnerable people, like Lloyd and Emanuel, so they can build confidence and move on, in the same way that Brad has. And how this is made possible thanks to The Society of St James and its dedicated staff like Jordan, Bev and Michelle.

Case Study by

Mary Stone

If you want to support SSJ, you can do so in many ways.

We are looking for corporate partners who want to help us throughout 2020 and beyond. If your business wants to support us, email Fundraising@ssj.org.uk

You can donate directly to the cause here.

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