Chloe's Story

Joined by Chloe, a Support Worker at one of P3’s supported emergency accommodation services in Wolverhampton, we talk about what temporary accommodation looks like and why consistent, multi-agency support is crucial for recovery.  

Sitting in the front room of the shared accommodation that supports people under the age of 35, we can hear the bustle of people catching up and laughing. Some people are having support sessions, while others are just catching up.  

We start our conversation by talking about what the service does. As Chloe explains, “We’re emergency accommodation, which means the people we support are referred to us via [P3’s street] outreach. The first thing we do is assess support needs and see what help we can offer, as well as referring [people] to other services that’d be good for that individual.” Chloe immediately touches on P3’s multi-agency approach, which is bedrock of our support. 

The accommodation has 13 flats that house 21 people through a mix of shared and single units. Chloe says, “The flats themselves are so nice. I’d live in them!”  

The high standard for accommodation combined with our multi-agency approach have led to P3 being well-known across the city. Chloe says, in particular, working with local support services such as Recovery Near You and YMCA has helped the team offer a full spectrum of support that can help people get back on their feet, faster and more sustainably.  

Talking about what moving into supported accommodation looks like, Chloe explains, “[Everybody who comes here] is assigned a support worker; we have four in total, alternating two-two every shift. 

“All support workers are happy to help with any questions that come up, anything that you need. We will look at your support needs and help [you] find services to match that. For example, if you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, we will put you in touch with Recovery Near You. That’ll be one of the first steps into getting long term accommodation, as you’ll need to sort that out before you can go into independent living. 

“Once we’ve got other agencies involved, we can refer you into our longer-term temporary accommodations or into intensive housing management, which is a lot longer stay with much less intensive support.”  

Turning towards her own role as a support worker, Chloe says, “One of the highlights of working for P3 is helping people and seeing the smile on their faces when they succeed in something they didn’t believe they’d be able to succeed in.” 

Chloe gives an example of one resident who has been using drugs over a long period of time, but who has recently prescribed the Buvidal jab, which is used to treat opioid dependence. She says, “It’s been absolutely brilliant. He’s now going into rehab – something he never thought he’d be able to do. It’s a brilliant story. He’s put in the work and the effort and we’re all so proud of him.”  

Stories like this are what inspires Chloe and her team to keep showing up every day and to keep putting people first. The small incremental changes she sees eventually have real long-term impact on the people she supports.  

To conclude our interview, we asked Chloe, ‘What makes a P3 person?’. 

Her reply: “I think it’s about wanting to help people; it’s why we do this job. I mean, we believe in all [the people we support]. We know they can succeed in whatever they’re trying to do.” 

To find out more about what it means to be a support worker, or to find vacancies near you click the button below.