The Deputy Mayor of London for Housing Tom Copley met members from the East London Rough Sleeping & Mental Health Programme (RAMHP) team at ELFT’s Headquarters in Aldgate on 11 May.

The RAMHP team were joined by their partners from Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets Street Outreach Teams who described to Tom the positive impact that RAMHP has on their work.

The Rough Sleepers Adult Mental Health Project was established in 2020 as part of the Mayor’s action plan to improve the lives of homeless people in London.

ELFT's RAMHP team cover the City, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham and work directly with Street Outreach Teams (SORT) – to improve mental health awareness as well as work to overcome mental health or psychological needs of clients so as improve their access to health care.

RAMHP Service user Alan took part in the presentation, eloquently describing how the team had helped him when he was rough sleeping to access the services he needed which transformed his quality of life.

The Mayor of London and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities funded the RAMHP project for its first two years. In 2022 NHS Commissioners continued to ensure funding.

Opening the presentation, ELFT Chief Operating Officers Edwin Ndvolu described how the RAMHP team’s work is central to the Trust’s aspirations to reduce health inequalities and focus on the wider determinants of health.

RAMHP Operational Lead Hilary Neil explained how the team’s overarching goal is to work closely alongside a range of partner organisations to improve the health of homeless people.

She described how “the team works dynamically and sensitively, to build trust and to develop relationships so we can assess and help treat people’s unmet needs.”

Nurse Consultant RIkke Albert described how part of the role involves improving the awareness about the relationship between mental and physical health, and how to understand the role trauma has on health.

Service User Alan was effusive in his praise for the RAMHP team.

“This team treat you properly. They get things done and look after people.”

“The way they work should be the same everywhere.”

Newham Deputy Service Manager for the Change, Grow, Live SORT team articulated the impact the RAMHP model has on her team’s role.

“The clinical specialisms in mental health provided by RAMHP has improved my team’s understanding.

"They have created a learning environment of discussion, reporting, modelling and upskilling.

“They have created a psychologically informed environment and for that I’d like to say thank you.”

Leon Eckford, Manager of Tower Hamlets Street Outreach Team (SORT), St. Mungo's said:

“RAMHP are so valuable to us on the streets of Tower Hamlets.

“They're so understanding of our trauma-informed approach, where we meet the client where they are at, rather than where people expect them to be.

“My team look forward to their outreach shifts together, where they feel more confident when working with people with complex mental health needs.

“I thank them for being a shining example of light in Tower Hamlets partnership work.”

RAMHP nurses Naomi Davidge and Lidya Walet Ibrahim described their daily roles and responsibilities, and emphasised how consistent and determined efforts to build relationships is key to gaining the trust of the vulnerable people they work with.

Reflecting on everything he had learnt about the RAMHP team’s work, Deputy Mayor of London Tom Copley said:

“I’m incredibly grateful to the RAMHP team and their borough partners for taking the time to describe the work they do today – and to Alan, who spoke so passionately about the impact their work has had on his life and others.

“I’m also delighted that the Mayor of London was able to help launch this service.

"It ensures dedicated mental health professionals can provide specialist support to people on the streets who need it the most.

"It has gone from strength to strength because of the dedication and determination of the staff themselves.”