Real people’s stories of working within or being supported by the system.   

Story One:

I am going to talk about myself and being isolated in my role. Physically and literally because I am in an office on my own. And also isolated in the sense of being authentically listened to around my ideas around system change. I think how I view the system: it’s not that people don’t care, (and I am included), people don’t feel they can take the time to step out of day to day and give space it deserves to tackle it properly. There are excuses, emails, funding, projects (administration). Even though I feel isolated in literal terms and being heard, I can see that also in other people. We see each other but through frosted glass. We sit together more, but do we have the capacity and space in reality to do it. I’ve had to fight (and fight myself), I have fear that I’ll fall behind and get in trouble. Even being here [at cultural values survey sense-making event] I think about do I have permission – do I have this time? I think people will tell a similar story. The emails etc. get in the way of processing it properly, then you are part of the problem. Do the excuses get passed up a ladder where everyone is scared of the same thing. We are isolated in that headfuck. I would love a system to help prioritise: what is an action, what needs reflection, what can be paused. Work that gets done either never gets done or done poorly.

Story Two

[name] had a ‘preventing homelessness’ budget in local authority – budget to be used as needed, flexibility, as long as it’s legal! This meant that she was able to use money to help people at risk of losing their tenancy, to pay for support to access training to help people find work and gain skills, to fund small but significant individual interventions that [name] didn’t have to get agreed through unwieldly bureaucratic process. For one individual we realised it was more cost effective to pay him to clean the hostel, thereby keeping his own tenancy, than housing him in the hostel! Also allowed interventions to prevent people being affected by benefit cap – keeping families housed and together. This is about trusting people to be creative, responding to needs in a community they actually listen to and given freedom to be creative and use judgement.

Story Three

I am involved with a service user who has been a drug/alcohol abuser, has been in prison, has PTSD and has been street homeless. I work with him and his GP. He is currently living with his partner and their 2-year-old child. He is a devoted Dad. I attended a ‘family’ meeting where all the focus was on her and the child – he was effectively excluded (and thus isolated) and not even referred to by his name at the meeting. Some at the meeting speculated that he and his partner were ‘just’ co-parenting and not in a relationship, which I, and his GP, found disturbing. There was a suggestion she and the child would be better on their own (even though, for example, a domestic violence risk assessment found nothing). I pointed out that if that happened he’d be street homeless again. Because I, and his GP, knew his whole story we could advocate on his behalf. I’m still working with him to give him the connections in his life – not only being a co-parent.

Story Four

I was working with a client who asked a query about housing. I sent an email to the relevant authority to support the client. When I requested an update on the support, the latest update (2 months later) from the department was a referral back to me to support the client – as if my original referral had been completely lost in a long line of email chains between tons of agencies. The client was gobsmacked it took 2 months to get back to us. I almost need to fund another service – but where is it. It’s not there. It reduces the trust in me from the client and makes me feel unable to do my job. Client still doesn’t have a resolution and I am still holding and trying to fund more creative ways to work with people – and the client is learning to help herself in different ways.

Story Five

So a young lady (17), living with Mum, both have learning disabilities, their relationship has broken down resulting in violent outbursts and daughter threatening suicide. The young person was hospitalized but not sectioned – bed blocking as no one would agree on care. Strategy meeting… eventually social care took responsibility but had nowhere to place her. Live case – still in inappropriate ward in hospital.

So frustrating no one accepting responsibility – using time, no urgency. No local North Devon appropriate supported housing options.

Story Six

It was the weekend and I was going down the high street. I stopped and talked (took the time) to a Big Issue vendor.

His opinion, as a person who understood the system, was that individuals within the system are a “cash-cow”. Why does it take so long to get things done? Systems/projects are created but the problems (i.e. homelessness) still continue. He didn’t want to be in the system, he was taking responsibility for himself (self-employment/living in the woods). Within the system, solutions are not found. I can see why people can see the system as a self-perpetuating enterprise – lack of conclusion/self-sovereignty/control over own life due to social-economic factors.

People giving up on systems and feeling taken for granted/like a burden.

Story Seven

A woman. Two children permanently removed (adopted). History of drug & alcohol. Pregnant again after sober relationship. Contacted social services herself. Given care coordinator, engaging very well, all appointments attended. Exeter resident. At birth was decided her and partner should go to North Devon to stay in supervised accommodation by child protection services. Away from support network. Partner had to leave job. Choice/decision removed protective factors and increased risk. In setting ADHD diagnosed. Decided she had no parental skills and custody given to father. Triggered breakdown. Only able to see child twice a week. Managed to resist relapse. Support worker encouraged to stay strong and well. Offered her compassion, listening, time and encouragement. Now able to have non-supervised visits with son. Could have been avoided if proper support given at beginning in their community.

Story Eight

At work I have never had a budget towards end of COVID it was decided I should have a budget (substantial). I wanted to ensure it supported the great things were happening. I spoke to the voluntary sector, my own team. There was pressure to spend the money. It was really difficult to spend the money. I was asked to write contracts – it felt I was being set up to fail… I’m stubborn and I persevered, I tried to fund the loopholes. It took a toll on me personally. I felt everyday was a battle. It affected my integrity. I was paralysed.

“Don’t give me money I can’t spend” = It’s stifling

I had to be creative – set up 2 funds – outsourced. Taken 6-9 months to get small contracts. Finance pulling all the strings – not us who know where the money should be spent.

–           You haven’t spent your budget so you don’t need it again

–           Can’t procure small contracts “not lots of contracts”

–           No capacity for procurement either

–           I have now lost the money