National Housing Federation - Poplar HARCA - collaborating to support residents through challenges

Poplar HARCA: collaborating to support residents through challenges

At Poplar HARCA, we know that residents sometimes need extra help to keep their tenancies and live well at home. Our team is committed to tenancy sustainment and working with referral partners to make sure our residents have access to support when they need it.

In this case study, we’ll explore how our team worked with other agencies to help M, a Poplar HARCA resident, live safely at home through his health challenges.

M’s story

M is a Poplar HARCA resident who unfortunately suffered a stroke in 2022. Our Safeguarding team quickly collaborated with our Housing team to address his urgent needs. By reaching out to adult social care, we saw that M was already getting some care, but it was clear he needed more support.

M needed a property with a lift, so a medical application was completed prior to him returning home. His home also didn’t have enough room for all his medical equipment, so Farzana, M’s main Safeguarding Advisor, arranged for an extra pram shed, creating more space in his living room. This proactive approach made sure his housing didn't hinder his recovery and helped him keep his home, positively impacting not just M’s wellbeing, but also the wellbeing of his family.

Now, the Safeguarding team is working with Housing and Repairs services to install a communal handrail in M’s building. This will help him move in and out of the building more easily.

Our work on M’s case demonstrates our commitment to sustaining tenancies. As M put it: “Farzana is not just a Safeguarding Officer, she’s part of our lives.” This really shows the impact of a proactive approach, making sure M can remain in his home with his family for many years to come.

What has been the positive impact of partnership working?

To help M after his stroke, our Safeguarding team worked with various agencies that provide specialist services. For example, as M's mental health counselling had stopped, we referred him to Mind. Given his mental health difficulties after the stroke, it was crucial he received specialist support. Collaborating with other agencies to positively support residents is crucial, alongside making sure they know they can be referred as often as needed.

Our Safeguarding Team also made a referral to Carers Centre Tower Hamlets for M’s wife, S, after she told us that she was finding it hard to cope with her husband’s care needs. After referring S, she started attending sessions at Carers Centre Tower Hamlets, where she could talk to other carers and receive support.

What are some of the challenges of partnership working?

Working with partners is not without its challenges. Our team needs to make sure that residents meet the threshold for available services, and we know that waitlists can often be long. Due to M's circumstances, we wanted to make sure that all the right agencies were involved as quickly as possible.

We had to make sure that M met the thresholds needed to receive care from the other agencies, like Mind. Once the referrals were made to Mind, we followed up with a phone call and email to ensure his case was allocated as quickly as possible. This was to ensure that his waiting time to work with Mind wasn’t too long.

Who to speak to

Mary Raymer, External Affairs Manager

Mary.Raymer@housing.org.uk