Lambeth partnership shortlisted for HSJ Award
14 September 2026
The Lambeth Integrated Health Network has received national recognition for helping people access coordinated health, housing and substance use support.
The Lambeth Integrated Health Network (IHN), of which Thames Reach is a core partner, has been shortlisted for the HSJ Awards 2026 in the Provider Collaboration of the Year category.
The recognition highlights the partnership between Thames Reach, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), Guy’s and St Thomas’ Homeless Health Inclusion Team, and Groundswell. Together, the organisations support people experiencing multiple exclusion homelessness in Lambeth.
The IHN brings together homelessness outreach, psychology, physical healthcare, substance use support and peer support around the needs of each person. Its multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach helps people access health and support services when they may have struggled to engage with traditional services.
Our role in the partnership
As part of the network, Thames Reach manages and delivers two Recovery Lead Worker roles. The workers lead on substance use support within Lambeth hostels and the Vulnerable Adults Pathway, participating in local substance use service clinics and providing drop-in and keywork sessions for hostel residents and people supported through the pathway.
Partnership working is particularly valuable for people with complex needs who may find it difficult to engage consistently with services. In one case, Groundswell supported a resident with complex physical health needs to attend hospital appointments, while a Thames Reach Recovery Lead Worker helped her attend substance use treatment. When the resident became confused about her care, the worker liaised with nurses from the Homeless Health Inclusion Team on her behalf, explaining the next steps and encouraging her to engage with treatment she might otherwise have struggled to access.
Integrated care
Lisa Chrystie, Thames Reach Lead Worker within the Integrated Health Network, said: “Working closely within the IHN team is where the best results come from. We learn from each other, but most importantly, we can give clients a first-class level of integrated care.”
Joint visits, multidisciplinary team meetings, shared planning and day-to-day communication allow colleagues to exchange information more easily and draw on one another’s specialist knowledge. This helps remove barriers between services and provides more coordinated support for each person.
Being shortlisted for an HSJ Award reflects the commitment and collaborative work of colleagues across every partner organisation. We are proud of Thames Reach’s contribution to the network and delighted to see the partnership recognised nationally.
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