SHIEN Scottish Homelessness Involvement and Empowerment Network

This website is for anyone who knows Service User Involvement matters! Whether you are front line staff, manager, policy maker, or service user, the resources you can access here will support you in your activities.

If you are currently a Subscriber of SHIEN, then please log in to the site to access the full range of facilities available for your use.

Find out more about: 

•  SHIEN
•  History of the Network
  
•  Some Useful Definitions
  
•  Events and Training    ***
  
•  Publications - Report Now Available   
•  Being a Networker 
•  Becoming a Subscriber

National Conference 31st March 2010

SHIEN is a national network, facilitated by Glasgow Homelessness Network and funded by the Scottish Government.

It is a network for those who recognise the importance of involving and empowering people to have a say on the decisions that affect their life.

SHIEN recognises the overlaps between homelessness and other forms of inequality and exclusion - and so we also warmly welcome membership from service users, practitioners, policy makers and planners working toward wider health and community care objectives across Scotland.

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The Scottish Homelessness Involvement and Empowerment Network launched in December 2008, with the aim of using the collective experience of GHN and member organisations in the area of service user involvement  to support the work of organisations nationally.

To date, almost 300 organisations and individuals have become part of the network,both as Networkers and Subscribers.

SHIEN supports best practice through workshops at conferences, and dedicated events around the theme of participation.

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Service User Involvement:   Service User Involvement is a way of enabling people to participate in decisions and actions that affect their lives.

Empowerment:   The enabling of individuals to claim their rights, and to achieve their potential and aspirations. This is the principal behind and intended outcome of Involvement at the personal, social and political levels (although of course, personal empowerment maybe attained independently from any Involvement).

Service User:  The people for whom homelessness services were created, and who currently use those services.

Volunteer:    Those who contribute time and energy, do so of their own free will, and are not motivated by financial gain. Some services describe service user involvement as volunteering, for example when a person using the service takes up wider volunteering activities on behalf of the organisation.

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SHIEN events are free of charge to attend, and range from  workshops to whole day events.   We will also share all events on this site that relate to homelessness and service user involvement. 

*** Coming Soon *** The First SHIEN National Conference will be taking place on Wednesday 31st March; keep visiting the site for updates.

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All documents that you are able to download on this page open in a new window, and are in PDF format.  Most computers will open these automatically, but you may need to download a copy of Adobe Reader (which is free).

• SHIEN Shared Solutions July 09 Event
• SHIEN Shared Solutions December 09 Event
  

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Those who are Networkers of SHIEN are welcome to access information on SHIEN, upcoming events and training, plus copies of relevant publications. If you would like further information, please contact us.

Networkers can access the Best Practice Resource Exchange & read Best Practice Examples submitted by organisations from across Scotland.

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If you would like to become a Subscriber, and have access to all of the facilities below:

• An online Best Practice Resource Exchange, which facilitates Best Practice Activity Exchange, and the opportunity to discuss these and ask for ideas on service user involvement with colleagues nationally across the network;
• Free hard copy of the Toolkit;
  
• Networking opportunities through an annual conference and local seminars;
• Reduced participation fees for select training facilitated by Glasgow Homelessness Network (GHN);
• Advanced booking on training and consultancy, and SHIEN conference and workshops.
• Free stalls and showcases at SHIEN conference and workshops.
  

Please complete the joining leaflet, and return to GHN.  Subscription is subject to an annual subscription fee.

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