The Vulnerable Victims model supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism who are or are at risk of, being exploited by criminal gangs or individuals. It is built on the success of the Horizon model delivered by Phoenix Futures.
The Horizons model delivers intensive targeted interventions to a small group of people (typically 10-15 people in each area) utilising a multi-agency approach. There is a collaborative approach to identify those taken onto the group with the work focusing on
- A person-centred rather than service centred approach
- Persistent engagement with intensive and unwavering support
- Consistent multi-disciplinary engagement with other agencies
The project was created as Adult Social Care (ASC) recognised that certain people were not being adequately supported and required a more person-centred approach to understand exactly what their needs were so that they could then be addressed.
ASC acknowledged concerns were being raised to the police, but no further action was being taken, leaving the individual at risk of further exploitation or criminal behaviour themselves. There was also recognition that due to their high caseloads, ASC often did not have the time to undertake the work required.
The aim of the pilot was to help reduce vulnerability and risk of exploitation bringing professionals together to try and address these unmet needs with a dedicated senior practitioner providing intensive out-reach support, this support is not time-limited.
The project was launched in July 2020 and despite the many challenges the Pandemic posed the independent evaluation clearly evidenced the positive impact it has had on the people using the service, their families and other professionals involved. Published in September 2021 the evaluation was conducted via interviews with clients, stakeholders, staff, shadowing appts and case file reviews. The report highlighted:
- That the flexible and pro-active approach of the project and the breadth of support available (including regular outreach) was key in overcoming some of the gaps in support for individuals in the cohort
- The time dedicated to those in the cohort facilitated trusting and consistent relationships with individuals to learn “what’s really going on”. As a person using the service comments:
“She just comes in normal. Trying to get things sorted and making the situation much better”
As a result, the worker has been able to gain a sense of how multiple needs interact with each other in a way that social workers simply don’t have the time to, enabling a more in-depth understanding of the difficulties people are facing. This in turn allows the worker to act as an effective advocate for the individuals and the other professionals involved; to offer support around building appropriate relationships and highlighting previously unknown. vulnerabilities to other agencies (such as the police).
- The value of engagement with family members for those who struggled to communicate, explaining that “having an additional person to liaise with, share information with (in both directions) and reassure was extremely valuable”. As one person using the pilot commented, the liaison with family members provided a wide range of perspectives:
‘She can see from my Auntie's point of view, from my grandma's point of view, from my point of view, so it's like an outsider looking into it as well as a professional’
- Perhaps of most significance is the ability to pull together, co-ordinate and communicate with multiple professionals, resulting in a more coordinated response between services. The report highlighted how individuals in the cohort may be working with various agencies but there was often limited liaison between those involved. The impact of this was that, at any one time, professionals were only seeing “one piece of the puzzle”. Stakeholders commented on the benefit the project worker had brought to cases, bringing professionals around the same table, sharing information and problem-solving together:
‘It never occurred to them how he was living and what other things were going on in his life. Because he was always saying that everything was fine. He never told them that his housing was in danger. He never presented as someone who was living in utter chaos themselves. And so, they didn't realise what was going on until his worker, automatically as part of her remit, just gathered up everybody together. It was like, right, okay, who is he working with? Who knows him? Who's the doctor, who's he working with at Open Road? Who's his social worker? All these people are going to be connected from this point onwards. And that was a big turning point’ (External Stakeholder)
Whilst the pilot has highlighted clear gaps in supporting this vulnerable cohort, promoting improved coordination across agencies resulted in the positive outcomes achieved, evidencing the merit in continuing and broadening the project further.
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