Source: City of Wolverhampton
Professionals from a range of organisations across the Black Country came together to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to hoarding behaviours, share best practice and hear from people who exhibit hoarding behaviours and their experiences.
Ian Porter, a Psychologist and Coordinator of the Northwest Hoarders Helping Hoarders Network, led the day, discussing what hoarding is and isn’t, the factors that professionals face when working with people with hoarding behaviours, and support groups and why they are needed.
The Sandwell Hoarding Improvement Programme provided an overview of its work and the conference also included workshops that focus on mental health, stigma and trauma, there was a question and answer session with people with lived experience and an extract from ‘Landfill of Memories’, an autobiographical performance about hoarding performed by Susana Amato.
Councillor Paula Brookfield, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items, often of little or no monetary value, and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually leading to unmanageable amounts of clutter.
“It can be a significant problem if this clutter interferes with everyday living – for example, the person is unable to use or access their kitchen, bathroom or other rooms in their house – or if the clutter is causing significant distress or negatively affecting the quality of life of the person or their family.
“Across the Black Country, we are committed to working closely together as organisations and with people who have experienced hoarding behaviours to develop suitable support services.
“We want to listen to and hear the voices of people with experience of hoarding so that we can craft solutions that work, and do not further traumatise or stigmatise people.”
The NHS and Mind websites have information and advice to help people recognise hoarding behaviours and how to get support. Visit Hoarding disorder or Mind – hoarding. Alternatively, people are encouraged to speak to their GP.
Anyone with concerns about an adult should call Adult Social Care on 01902 551199 or 01902 552999 out of hours. In an emergency, dial 999.
‘Behind Closed Doors’ coincided with National Hoarding Awareness week. For more information, visit National Hoarding Awareness week.