Scottish Frontline Network event on Hard Edges: The Reality for Women Affected by Severe and Multiple Disadvantage

Earlier this year, the latest report in the influential ‘Hard Edges’ series led by HeriotWatt University was published. One of the most in-depth and comprehensive report of its kind, it focuses on women’s overlapping experiences of homelessness, substance use and involvement with the criminal justice system.

On 25th June 2024, The Scottish Frontline Network was joined by the lead author of the report, Professor Sarah Johnsen, for an event. The Scottish Frontline Network facilitates events and networking opportunities for frontline workers in Scotland who support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Frontline staff are able to come together to network, share experiences, expertise and amplify their voices to decision makers.

To find out more, you can find the latest Hard Edges research report here or check out the event slides.

Please sign up here if you would like to be kept up to date with our work and invited to our events. You can also get in touch with the Network via ScottishFrontlineNetwork@cyrenians.scot. 

At this online learning event, Sarah Johnsen shared key findings and recommendations from the study and answered questions from participants. 20 frontline workers from local authorities and third sector organisations attended the event and discussed how the research findings reflected what they’re seeing in their own roles and shared examples of good practice locally. Read on to discover key findings from the report that were discussed at the event.

Loss of children and lack of support

A key finding from the study, which also resonated with participants, is the lack of support for mothers once their children have been removed. This traumatic event often follows relatively intense social work involvement. However, once the decision has been made, mothers are often left with no support which can leave them in a vulnerable situation.

The new research indicates that not many homelessness services pick up on this or ask about loss of children when women approach their services. It’s also likely that women avoid disclosing this due to stigma and shame – but if handled right, this juncture point can be key to prevent women experiencing more harm.

Participants found this “very thought provoking” and shared that they will be more sensitive and aware of this in the future when interacting with women who have experienced this trauma.

Attendees also reflected on how young people affected by care are entitled to throughcare and aftercare, and whether something similar should be available for women who lose their children to prevent more harm and put them in a better position to potentially reunite with their children in the future.

Working in partnership with the justice system

The research found that women’s experience of prison varied a lot, which was also reflected at the event. Frontline workers who work specifically with women involved with the criminal justice system shared that, for some women, prisons can create a pause and an opportunity to rethink and rebuild their life, however the support is not necessarily there when they leave prison. For example, service criteria can be rigid with people’s cases being closed quickly if they are not able to engage right away. Others shared examples of good involvement of people with lived experience to provide prison leavers with support around benefits and reintegration in their community.

Attendees from England talked about the benefits of a pilot programme called ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) where police works closely with third sector organisations and the local authority to offer better support to people involved with crime, tackling county lines as well as cuckooing – where vulnerable people’s homes are taken over for criminal use.

“The ADDER police in Blackpool are amazing and our clients feel confident in working with them.” (attendee)

Dundee was also highlighted, from the perspective of women experiencing domestic abuse, as a place with good local practice – a lot of collaboration is happening and there is a strong network between prisons, domestic abuse organisations, substance use and mental health support.

Mental health and the need for trauma informed services

Everyone agreed that mental health plays a vital role, however mental health services are often reluctant to work with this group of women. Demand on mental health services and long waiting lists mean it can take a long time for people to access treatment – and if they manage to get there, the support they receive is not necessarily trauma informed.

Research shows that the often rigid appointment based system where “disengagement” is punished doesn’t work for people with severe and multiple disadvantage, and there is still a reluctance from mental health services to work with people with dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use). A local example was shared where a Homeless Mental Health team can pick up cases within 48 hours. This is working well, however dual diagnosis is still a barrier in some cases.

While trauma informed and psychologically informed practice is becoming more common among homelessness services, frontline workers shared frustration that some statutory services are not set up with this in mind. It means that the onus often falls on third sector organisations to support people who need specialist mental health treatment and support to help them cope with trauma and other adverse life experiences – and supporting someone without being able to access mental health treatment “feels like putting a sticky plaster on things”.

Frontline workers also talked about the importance of gender informed services, and how this approach can overlap with and strengthen a trauma informed approach. But more training is needed to raise awareness of this and make sure it is applied in practice.

Prevention is key

Participants all agreed that services focused on early intervention and preventing issues from escalating should be funded properly, even if it can be harder to evidence immediate outcomes. This could for example include work in early childhood settings and working with young mothers and families to support the transition to becoming a parent, or family support and mediation services that can pick up on and resolve family conflict. There was understandable frustration that preventative services are often the first ones to go when budgets are tight.

The research includes timelines made by women to illustrate the times when they would have benefitted from more support. Participants at the event found this to be a very compelling part of the research, and they could similarly pinpoint various points where an intervention could have benefitted the women they support and broken the cycle of harm and violence.

Participants also recognised one of the findings from the research, namely that good practice around supporting women experiencing severe and multiple disadvantages is often dependent on committed individuals rather than real systems change.

People suggested that new legislation on homelessness prevention in Scotland could potentially help embedding change by making sure public bodies work together more closely. The group also discussed the role of financial abuse and how gambling can affect women and their families. It was suggested that community-based organisations such as foodbanks could potentially be in a good position to pick up on this early on and offer support or signpost to expert organisations.

Participants shared afterward the event that they enjoyed hearing about “perspectives from other partner agencies who are also facing similar situations and struggles.”

To find out more, you can find the latest Hard Edges research report here or check out the event slides.

Please sign up here if you would like to be kept up to date with our work and invited to our events. You can also get in touch with the Network via ScottishFrontlineNetwork@cyrenians.scot.