Mark John-Williams on Circles Of Support

Andrew Redfern. Save our Supported Housing!

Lived Experience Voices

Please subscribed to the channel, like and/or leave a comment In this episode of ChangeTalk, I'm joined by representatives from three different lived experience groups working in different parts of England to improve services for people experiencing homelessness, multiple & compound needs, addiction, and poverty. Monica from LEAF in Oxford, Astrid from Lived Insights in York and Nicky & Cindy from Common Ambition in Brighton & Hove. We reflect on the benefits of lived experience involvement/ co-production, what it takes to do this well, what changes have come about as a result of their work and what needs to happen next. 'It needs to be in the core of how things are done'. Common Ambition: https://www.bhcommonambition.org [https://www.bhcommonambition.org] Lived Insights: https://livedinsights.org/ [https://livedinsights.org/] LEAF: https://oxfordgatehouse.org/services-activities/leaf/ [https://oxfordgatehouse.org/services-activities/leaf/] Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates (IBA): https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/ [https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/] IBA is proud to have worked with each of these three groups: With LEAF on the Housing-led Feasibility Study for Oxfordshire: https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/homelessness-knowledge-hub/housing-models-and-access/oxfordshire-feasibility-study/ [https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/homelessness-knowledge-hub/housing-models-and-access/oxfordshire-feasibility-study/] With Lived Insights on the York Drug & Alcohol Strategy With Common Ambition on the Evaluation of the Changing Futures Multi-disciplinary Team: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-04/IBA%20CF%20MDT%20Evaluation%20Final%20Report%2003032025.pdf [https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-04/IBA%20CF%20MDT%20Evaluation%20Final%20Report%2003032025.pdf] and recently in looking at Oasis Project's women-only drug and alcohol support services. Chapters 1:08 - Introductions 7:07 - Why co-produce? 15:50 - What does good look like? 35:25 - Impact and change 48:45 - What else needs to happen?

Jane Farrell on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Please subscribe to the channel, like and/or leave a comment!! In this episode, I'm speaking to Jane Farrell (former co-founder and CEO of Equality Works/ EW Group) who has spent over 30 years improving diversity and equity in workplaces . We talk about unconscious bias, institutional discrimination, equality monitoring, building a business case, what it means to take a strategic approach to Diversity, Equity Inclusion (and how you can do this on a tight budget). Jane Farrell Consultancy: https://www.janefarrellconsultancy.com [https://www.janefarrellconsultancy.com] Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates: https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/ [https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/] Imogen specialises in Equality Impact Assessment, and the analysis of equality monitoring data. Discussed in the podcast: 1999: Report of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry] On racial inequalities in UK maternity services https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmwomeq/94/report.html [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmwomeq/94/report.html] Evidence for business case for DEI: McKinsey: Diversity matters even more (2023): https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-matters-even-more-the-case-for-holistic-impact [https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-matters-even-more-the-case-for-holistic-impact] Deloitte: Missing out: The business case for customer diversity: https://www.deloitte.com/au/en/services/consulting/perspectives/business-case-customer-diversity.html [https://www.deloitte.com/au/en/services/consulting/perspectives/business-case-customer-diversity.html] Chapters 1:09 - Introduction 2:13 - Finding hope in tough times 07:35 - Social class 11:39 - Doing DEI on a shoestring 16:24 - Access, Experience, Outcome 17:55 - Unconscious bias 23:26 - Institutional Discrimination 27:39 - Monitoring data 32:24 - DEI is life or death 35:09 - Strategic approach in a criminal justice setting 42:39 - Workforce and/or service provision 45:44 - Building a business case 50:53 - DEI in the care sector 53:39 - Advice for those working on DEI

Penelope Green on Mental Health Supported Housing

Please subscribe to the channel, like and/or leave a comment!! In this episode, we hear from Penelope Green, who left the civil service (after 18 years, holding senior roles at the Department of Health & Social Care and the Cabinet Office) to work for Look Ahead, a supported housing provider. We talk about the benefits of supported housing for people with mental health conditions and for the NHS, and reflect on opportunities to better integrate housing into Neighbourhood Health initiatives. Penelope Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-green-83a78985/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-green-83a78985/] Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates: https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/ [https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/] IBA's report for the Greater London Authority on Mental Health Supported Housing is due to be published in late 2025. Discussed in the podcast: Look Ahead: https://www.lookahead.org.uk [https://www.lookahead.org.uk] Wates Family Enterprise Trust: https://www.wfet.org.uk [https://www.wfet.org.uk] Nat Fed #SOSHousing: https://www.housing.org.uk/our-work/supported-housing/save-our-supported-housing/ [https://www.housing.org.uk/our-work/supported-housing/save-our-supported-housing/] Penelope's report: The future of supported housing – how can we deliver more, faster: Scaling capital funding https://www.lookahead.org.uk/we-have-the-capital-now-lets-build-the-homes-say-experts/ [https://www.lookahead.org.uk/we-have-the-capital-now-lets-build-the-homes-say-experts/] HACT – Housing and health services: https://hact.org.uk/tools-and-services/housing-services/ [https://hact.org.uk/tools-and-services/housing-services/] Oaklands St Kilda’s Community Rehabilitation Supported Living Service for young people: https://www.lookahead.org.uk/app/uploads/2025/03/Oaklands-brochure.pdf [https://www.lookahead.org.uk/app/uploads/2025/03/Oaklands-brochure.pdf] Sussex MH and housing strategy: https://hact.org.uk/publications/mental-health-and-housing-a-strategic-plan-for-integrating-housing-and-mental-health-across-sussex/ [https://hact.org.uk/publications/mental-health-and-housing-a-strategic-plan-for-integrating-housing-and-mental-health-across-sussex/] NHS England: Neighbourhood health guidelines 2025/6: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/neighbourhood-health-guidelines-2025-26/ [https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/neighbourhood-health-guidelines-2025-26/] Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:23 - Look Ahead's supported housing 3:20 - Role in Neighbourhood Health 6:40 - Securing NHS funding for housing support 14:35 - Scaling up in a complex system? 19:15 - Asks of central government: raising profile 23:26 - Barriers to central government action 32:38 - Asks of central government: Housing Benefit 39:10 - Ideal size of mental health schemes 42:23 - Profile and skills of workforce 50:12 - How to change local systems 55:12 - Integrating Housing in Neighbourhood Health

Mark John-Williams on Circles Of Support

In this episode, we hear from Mark John-Williams who has over 40 years experience in the care and support sector about the Circles of Support model and how it can mobilise family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances to provide support for an individual. Mark John-Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-john-williams-99519289/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-john-williams-99519289/] His short video on Circles of Support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ybw3DFVEQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ybw3DFVEQ] Imogen runs a social research consultancy Imogen Blood & Associates: https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/ [https://www.imogenblood.co.uk/] She provides training on positive risk-taking in care and support. She also provides MSC training: https://www.seralliance.org/ [https://www.seralliance.org/] Discussed in the podcast: Supported Decision-Making: https://paradigm-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Print-copy-2023-MASTER-Supported-Decisions-Making-booklet-27-September-A5_Wiro_Bound_SEB.pdf.pdf [https://paradigm-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Print-copy-2023-MASTER-Supported-Decisions-Making-booklet-27-September-A5_Wiro_Bound_SEB.pdf.pdf] Judith Snow: https://www.community-circles.co.uk/judith-snow-a-pioneer-woman/ [https://www.community-circles.co.uk/judith-snow-a-pioneer-woman/] The Harvard Longitudinal Study: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/harvard-happiness-study-relationships/672753/ [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/harvard-happiness-study-relationships/672753/] Gather My Crew: https://www.gathermycrew.org.au [https://www.gathermycrew.org.au] Here 2 There/ For Mi: https://www.here2there.me.uk [https://www.here2there.me.uk] Hilary Cottam: Radical Help: https://www.hilarycottam.com/radical-help/ [https://www.hilarycottam.com/radical-help/] Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - What is a 'circle of support'? 5:05 - Steps involved in setting up a circle 11:05 - What if there's no one to invite? 14:55 - How fits with paid services 19:14 - Importance of relationships 22:44 - Positive risk-taking and safeguarding 33:15 - Relevance to homelessness/ addiction 36:13 - Learning from the pandemic 41:22 - Using apps to facilitate 47:53 - Knowing how to help 50:30 - Spreading the model 1:02:00 - Reducing demand for health & care