Rough Sleeping Mental Health Awareness
A free course for cross-sector professionals on recognising and working with the mental health needs of people who sleep rough or are unstably housed. Fifteen leading experts, including people with lived experience.
Sponsored by the Mayor of London's Rough Sleeping Innovation Fund. Copy from the Teachable course page, 21 Oct 2026. "Former Service User" rendered as "Expert by experience" per the crib sheet. Lucy to approve.
About this course
Backed by the Mayor of London's Rough Sleeping Innovation Fund, Westminster City Council and London Borough of Lambeth, this free course supports cross-sector professionals in recognising and working with the mental health needs of people who sleep rough and the unstably housed.
Fifteen leading experts, including people with lived experience, Sir Michael Marmot, Deputy Mayor James Murray, Associate Professor Nick Maguire and Jane Cook (MHCLG), discuss the context and complexity of need, approaches to engagement and support, recognising and working with risk, and key mental health and substance use problems. The course also explores the use of legislation such as the Mental Health Act, navigating the NHS, and helping people with no recourse to public funds.
Preview
Teachable has a "Watch Promo" video for this course. Embed it here once Lucy exports or links the file (YouTube unlisted or self-hosted).
Who it's for
Outreach workers, hostel and supported housing staff, health and mental health professionals, local authority and voluntary sector teams, and anyone whose work brings them into contact with people sleeping rough. No clinical background needed.
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the context and complexity of need among people who sleep rough
- Recognise key mental health presentations and substance use problems
- Approach engagement and support in a way that works for the person
- Recognise and work with risk
- Understand how legislation such as the Mental Health Act applies
- Navigate the NHS and support people with no recourse to public funds
Course content
Four modules, 30 to 45 minutes each, with short videos and a knowledge check at the end of each module. Module titles from Teachable once Lucy confirms what should be shown publicly.
Your instructors
- James MurrayDeputy Mayor of London
- Sir Michael MarmotDirector, Institute of Health Equity, University College London
- Dr Nick MaguireAssociate Professor, University of Southampton
- Luke SlevinExpert by experience
- Dr Emma WilliamsonPrincipal Clinical Psychologist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Peter CockersellChief Executive, Community Housing and Therapy
- Edd CottonOutreach Worker, SPEAR
- Dr Jenny DrifeConsultant Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr James DuffyClinical Psychologist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Zana KhanGP and Lead Clinician, King's Health Partners Homeless Team
- Jane CookHealth and Homelessness Advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Joseph MurphyManager, Leicester City Homeless Outreach Team
- Dr Suzanne ElliotClinical Psychologist, Leicester Homeless Mental Health Service
- Andy KnightDeputy Manager, Joint Homelessness Team, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Lizzie FurberApproved Mental Health Professional, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Dan JonesManager, Joint Homelessness Team, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Questions
When does the course start and finish?
Whenever you like. It's fully self-paced: start when you enrol, finish in one sitting or over several weeks.
How long do I have access?
For as long as you need it, on any device you own.
What if this isn't the course I wanted?
If your chosen course isn't what you wanted, you may be entitled to a course exchange, subject to our 14-day cooling-off period.
Can my organisation enrol a whole team?
Yes. Use the "Talk to us about your team" button and we'll set it up, with completion reporting for your managers if you want it.