Community Embedded Worker

Migrant communities experience a range of challenges when accessing NHS services so leaders across South London came together to embed mental health practitioners in institutions people already know and trust.

In our 18-month pilot we funded three NHS mental health practitioners to work one day per week across five community organisations in Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark. The Community Embedded Workers adapted their role to meet the needs of the organisations and communities they were working in. Activity included delivering one-to-one and group advice sessions, supporting people with referrals to mental health services, developing culturally relevant material and resources and helping existing staff to provide low-level support through training so that the benefits of the work can be maintained at a local level.

List of organisations :

  • Lewisham Migrant and Refugee Network (LRMN)

  • Surrey Square Primary

  • Spring Community Hub

  • Christian International Peace Service (CHIPS)

  • South London Refugee Association (SLRA)

Community Embedded workers have been able to work with services to adapt their approach, as well as create new or tailored support opportunities to respond to needs.

This includes:

• Working with NHS Talking Therapies service to develop a pathway for 30 clients to access talking therapies and relevant mental health services for the first time.

• Trialing the delivery in the community of a previously internal NHS Critical Incident Staff Support service, to support leaders to deal with a stabbing that had a huge impact on residents.

• Supporting good outcomes for people who have been housed successfully and have access mental health services after years of being homeless and not having access to health appointments.

• Increasing awareness and knowledge sharing among NHS teams – through training sessions by voluntary sector staff, and the inclusion of our pilot in an NHS course on how to engage with different people and communities to reduce inequalities, which over 2,000 people have enrolled in.

• Holding a roundtable with the NHS service leads to explore key barriers and potential solutions, looking particularly at language barriers and translation and the delivery of trauma-informed practice.

“Having Laura embedded in Lewisham Refugee Migrant Network has given refugees and migrants a direct, compassionate and effective route into mental health services. Many of our clients have concerns about accessing health, particularly mental health, services. Laura has been a friendly and approachable face for them to have initial contact with and discuss options, dispelling concerns and giving them faith that statutory mental health services are open to them. Laura has also offered invaluable advice and guidance to caseworkers supporting clients with mental health problems.”

Alan Robertson, CEO at LRMN

For many people in south London, Covid-19 brought on new mental health challenges – or made existing challenges worse. The need to improve access to appropriate services and support has never been greater. This increased need is particularly felt by those who already experience disadvantage in our society, particularly Black, African, Caribbean and mixed heritage communities, and migrants, refugees, and diaspora groups.