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  1. About Us
  2. Our history
  3. Link Worker Schemes

Link Worker Schemes

Until 2007, Revolving Doors Agency developed and directly delivered Link Worker Schemes as a means of testing effective ways of working with people who are caught in a cycle of crisis, crime and mental health problems. The schemes offered clients practical and emotional support, helping them to access appropriate services and to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour.

Revolving Doors Agency’s first Link Worker Scheme began work in 1997 in High Wycombe in South Buckinghamshire. Over the next few years, we set up schemes in the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Ealing and Islington. The Schemes initially worked exclusively in the community, but later extended their work to HMP Pentonville, HMP Holloway, HMP Woodhill and HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

Between 2003 and 2007, Revolving Doors Agency operated two pilot Link Worker Schemes for young people, aged 15-21 years, in Kent and the London Borough of Haringey. An evaluation of this work, entitled Lost in Translation was published in 2005.

In 2003, Revolving Doors Agency transferred the Tower Hamlets Link Worker Scheme to Providence Row Housing Association.

In 2007, the Islington Link Worker Scheme transferred to Southside Partnership and the Supporting People component of the South Buckinghamshire Link Worker Scheme transferred to a consortium of providers led by Bromford Housing Group.

Mental health, multiple needs and the police and Snakes and Ladders summarise the findings of the Link Worker Schemes. The learning from the schemes was used to inform further service development and policy work.

Revolving Doors Agency no longer directly delivers services, but works in partnership with a range of health, social care and criminal justice service providers to establish responses to the 'revolving doors group'.

We are currently involved in two partnership schemes which use the link worker model:

Read about our current partnership work here.