SMD Learning Series | nottinghamcvs.co.uk

This series of webinars is focused on sharing latest research and learning in the field of severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD). It draws on insights gained from the Changing Futures Programme as well as innovation and insights from a range of organisations and services across our systems.

It is co-ordinated by the Nottingham Practice Development Unit (PDU) and open to anyone with an interest in this area of work.

Have expertise to share?

Please contact pdu@nottinghamcvs.co.uk if you are interested being part of this learning series and using our sessions to speak about your own research or innovative practice.

How to stay up to date

By registering for an event in this series you will automatically be added to our mailing list to be notified about future sessions in the series. Alternatively, you can email pdu@nottinghamcvs.co.uk with a request to be added to the SMD Learning Series mailing list. You can opt out at any time.

Download our Learning Series poster

Upcoming Events in this Series

Identification and prevalence of Severe and Multiple Disadvantage in Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Mental Health Support

1pm to 2.30pm, Tuesday 8 April 2025
Delivered online as a Teams webinar

This webinar will look at using patient and activity data, that is already collected, to identify severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) and to analyse how people experiencing multiple barriers to successful outcomes access mental health support. We will share our methodology, findings and proposed actions with you, as well as providing recommendations on how you can replicate this work within your own organisation.

Hidden homelessness amongst women: gender informed services that lead to Growth

10am to 11.30am, Tuesday 29 April 2025
Delivered online as a Teams webinar

This webinar looks at hidden homelessness amongst women and what this means. We will hear from the Strategic Commissioning Manager for Vulnerable Adults within Sheffield Council / Programme Manager for Changing Futures Sheffield; Solace Women’s Aid, who worked collaboratively with other partners to deliver a national census to help understand the under representation of women experiencing homelessness; and Framework, one of the partner organisations working on the census. Lastly, Target Housing, who run the Growth project in Sheffield which works with women who have experienced child removal, will give a presentation about their service.

Investigating women’s pathways through homelessness and multiple exclusion in Nottingham

10.30am to 12 noon, Thursday 22 May 2025
Delivered online as a Teams webinar

This webinar will be led by Carolin Hess, Research Fellow from the University of Nottingham. Drawing on participant observation across statutory and voluntary homelessness services in Nottingham and 50 in-depth interviews with practitioners and women with homelessness experience, the presentation aims to critically investigate women’s homelessness trajectories, exploring the impact of intersectionality, violence, and women’s relationships with workers, partners, and social networks on their access to care and support. The presentation will also consider some policy and service implications of the findings to more effectively address the needs of these women.

Previous Events

Materials from previous events in this series will be available to download, once an event has passed.

How do people who use substances experience accessing and living in homeless hostels? A systematic review

Delivered online as a Teams webinar on Thursday 27 February 2025

Led by Twinkle Choksi, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, this webinar looked at the findings from the report of the same name. It is recognised that people experiencing homelessness often use substances and may face additional barriers to reducing substance use while living in hostels. The webinar offered an opportunity to hear from one of the authors of the report to learn more about the existing research on this topic.

Embedding SMD Specialist Practitioners as a vehicle for system change in Nottingham City

Delivered online as a Teams webinar on Wednesday 19 February 2025

Changing Futures Nottingham is one of 15 areas across the country working to improve the lives of people experiencing multiple disadvantage using person-centred approaches and linking in a wrap-around support network of services. As part of its delivery model, it has created embedded practitioner roles that are hosted within statutory services focused on improving how these areas work for people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) both as separate services and in partnership.

This session, the first in the series, discussed the impact of the SMD specialist practitioner roles on the local system after one year, drawing on insights from a recent evaluation report produced by the Changing Futures Learning and Evaluation team.