making the headlines BIZ Q&A Rosie Phillips shares all on life at DHI

Rosie Phillips realised through volunteer work with homeless individuals that the issues they faced were much greater than a lack of permanent address

BIZ Q&A

Rosie Phillips

Founder and chief executive of Developing Health and Independence (DHI)

What does DHI do? We help people who are vulnerable or marginalised, such as those with a drug or alcohol problem, the homeless and those with mental ill health. By working with the person as a whole and not just the problem they come to us with, we can help people to be more independent and achieve their potential.

Tell us more about your role It’s my job to lead our work. DHI run a range of services across Avon and Wiltshire, so I manage a small team of directors who take a more hands-on approach. That gives me time to think about how we need to evolve in an ever-changing environment and build the right partnerships to support our work.

What led you to work within the charity sector? Over two decades ago, I was working for a PR consultancy in London. Every day I would walk down Cricklewood Broadway and see people sleeping rough. I started volunteering for a homeless charity and soon realised that homelessness doesn’t sit in isolation. Drug and alcohol misuse, lack of opportunity, mental ill health, trauma, inadequate support leaving institutions (care, prisons, and the armed forces), can lead to complex problems and rough sleeping. When the opportunity came up to work on a project in Bath that straddled both housing and drug/ alcohol misuse, I leapt at it, and after a short time that project became the standalone charity DHI.

What are some of the services DHI offers? Drug and alcohol services are a large part of what we do, as many people turn to substances as a way of addressing emotional and physical pain. Our clients are often hurt and disconnected. e o er dr g and alcohol treatment services for adults and young people (Project 28). We r n a comm nity detoxification and rehabilitation residential project for those wanting support to become abstinent where they have no suitable place to live. We also provide support for those caring for someone with a drug or alcohol problem.

How did DHI establish its values? They were determined via a research project about the relationship between the characteristics of key workers and the best client outcomes. We spent many years gathering evidence into the link between outcomes and values within DHI.

What did you learn? Our research showed that our clients achieved better outcomes when their keyworker was someone who gave them the tools and the inspiration to do things for themselves, but didn’t try to do it for them. We care for our service users, but being their carers doesn’t serve their best interests.

“A FIRM FOUNDATION IS ESSENTIAL”

Instead, we approach our work with values of: stimulation, self-direction and zest for life.

You offer housing support too, don’t you? ns ring everyone has a firm foundation is essential, so we run housing advice and support services, including rough sleeper outreach, and a not for profit social lettings agency (Home Turf) for those on benefits, since finding a ordable accommodation in Bath is not easy.

Do you work with GPs? We do. We partner with GPs to provide a social prescribing service and run an employment and skills service for our clients.

It’s the integration of these services, the ability to wrap support around an individual and address problems common to social exclusion, that makes us unique.

How has the pandemic altered your services? Sta sprang into action immediately to ensure that no one was left without the help they needed. Assessments, one-to-one appointments, and group support all became available online. Other work needed to continue faceto-face, such as our housing services and rough sleeper outreach, where some truly excellent work ensured all rough sleepers were housed within days of lockdown. We also managed to run a conference and our annual event online, and we even moved to new premises!

How can people support DHI? Talk to your local councillor about why you value our work, or you can donate via our website. We are publicly funded to deliver some services, but donations allow us to do much more, and to meet areas of unmet need. It’s by innovating that we have kept going for over 20 years and have helped turn around countless lives. We are also always on the lookout for people with time and skills who can volunteer with us. If you would like to be part of our team of amazing volunteers, then please get in touch via our website.

For more: DHI, The Beehive, Beehive Yard; tel: 01225 329411; www.dhi-online.org.uk