Liverpool Waves of Hope evaluation: year 3 report
An evaluation of the third year of Liverpool Waves of Hope, a project in Liverpool which provides support for people with multiple and complex needs in the areas of substance misuse, mental health, homelessness and offending.
This report provides an assessment of the progress of the Liverpool Waves of Hope project. Liverpool Waves of Hope is part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Fulfilling Lives programme, which funds partnerships of local organisations to improve services for people with multiple and complex needs (MCN), enabling them to live better lives. People with MCN are defined as those who experience problems in at least three of the following areas: homelessness, substance misuse, reoffending and mental ill health.
The year three evaluation report focuses on service user experience and outcomes, and the wider influence the project has had in promoting improved ways of working with people with MCN in Liverpool.
Since last year, significantly more service users have engaged in training activities and in peer mentoring. Despite this, there have been fewer people successfully moving on from the project. Safe and stable accommodation is key to recovery, yet both service users and case workers recognise the challenges of securing appropriate housing.
Co-operation between different services is perceived to have improved, leading to a better experience for service users. However, access to mental health support remains problematic; individuals with a dual diagnosis of substance misuse are often excluded.
The profile of MCN has been raised in Liverpool, including wider awareness and adoption of psychologically informed approaches in homelessness services, and the creation of a specialist service for abusive relationships involving people with MCN. In the final years of the project it will be important to increase engagement and joint working with sectors other than housing, particularly the health sector.
The Lived Experience Hub has created a good opportunity to engage people with lived experience of MCN in shaping the project. However, service user involvement activities should be developed to involve more and different people, particularly current and recent service users and those who are more isolated.
