1. Making Every Contact Count: Making Every Early Contact Count Too: Housing Officer Pilot Training Dr Emmie Fulton Health Psychologist & Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Emily Smith Public Health Development Manager

2. Project aims To develop a face-to-face half-day MECC training for housing officers To understand the specific needs of this group and whether we need to tailor what was currently available (e.g. e- learning) To consider how we can engage staff from the onset

3. The Training InformationPracticeWhy include US? How can WE make it work for US? Background to MECC Healthy Behaviours Sign- posting Chat 4 Change

4. Our approach Established individual and team needs via a questionnaire Developed a half day interactive training package presented in PowerPoint slides, practical activities and role-plays. Included key components: 1) Why we were asking for their help – importance of MECC to all and their key involvement 2) Theory – What is MECC, what are the health priorities & basic information? 3) Practice – How do I build my confidence/start the conversation? 4) Team approach to integrating MECC - Problem solving

5. Making the case for their involvement Chris Started smoking at 15 Always enjoyed a drink, now drinks daily, throughout the day

6. Housing officers provide brief advice Early Death Rings smoking cessation Drinking daily, throughout day, smoking more heavily Symptoms begin GP Referred for specialist help Hospitalised QUITS SMOKINGQUITS SMOKING Longer Life A ‘Sliding Doors’ Scenario

7. NHS cannot tackle this alone Housing see people sooner NHS has to wait for people to come to them Many don’t access healthcare services – those who need help most Housing may have more insight into what to raise the issue about - understand needs Can show people the doors into NHS & other healthcare services

8. Results Evaluated the effectiveness of the training with pre- and post evaluation questionnaires. Significant increases in: -Knowledge about what MECC is -Knowledge about key health messages -Confidence to raise the issue -Confidence at carrying out MECC -Knowledge about where to signpost

9. What did we learn? Encourage ownership of MECC Staff have ideas about what points within their service might support MECC activity (e.g. housing assessment forms ask about smoking, could follow up with signposting and other questions) Housing officers were interested in the impact of Mental health and whether this could be incorporated into MECC. Suggested ‘Making EVERY contact count’ had put them off – chose to say every ‘ appropriate contact ’. Need regular encouragement – newsletters, progress of other teams MECC champion in each team

10. Thank you for listening Dr Emmie Fulton emmie.fulton@coventry.ac.uk Tel. 024 7688 7171