In response to overwhelming requests, the Continuing Professional Development Centre at Oxford University are launching an online discussion forum on Health and Homelessness today between 10am – 2pm. The forum can be accessed online at www.conted.ox.ac.uk/homeless and will give health and social care professionals including voluntary and support workers a venue to share experiences, collaborate and learn from each other as well as facilitating networking and the sharing of ideas of working effectively with homeless people. The forum will also provide monthly updates on news and developments on health and homelessness.

Health and Homelessness Forum facilitator
Dr Angela Jones, chair of the Inaugural Conference and a NHS GP currently on secondment as Specialist Advisor to the Homelessness Directorate at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), and who has worked in this field for 7 year, will be available online to facilitate discussions on the first day of the launch of the forum from 10am to 2pm. Dr Angela Jones will also write monthly homeless research & news bulletins to be posted on the forum.

Courses and Events:

Key Concepts in Health Care for Homeless People

This online course will start 29 May 2007 for 10 weeks. Designed to give students a broad perspective on issues such as the causes and consequences of homelessness, different types of homelessness, the roles of statutory and non-statutory organisations in relieving homelessness and the main clinical problems affecting people experiencing homelessness. The module also requires students to participate in self-reflection on concepts such as stigma and social exclusion. Assessed work is focused mainly on participants' own community, giving students the opportunity to not only learn about homelessness but apply that knowledge to their own localities.For more information contact [log in to unmask] or visit www.conted.ox.ac.uk/homeless.

Health and Homelessness Conference

On 25 September 2007 (tentative), we will holding the second Oxford Health and Homelessness Conference jointly with the Homeless Link. The conference is an opportunity to hear the very latest news in health and homelessness, to obtain guidance and inspiration from innovative schemes across the country and to share your own knowledge and expertise with others. The conference programme is currently being developed and the web site will be soon updated for registration. Book this date in your diary and bookmark our web page www.conted.ox.ac.uk/homeless.

Hope you will join us at the launch of the health and homelessness forum on the 1st March

Best Regards,