Meet Outreach Nurse Theresa Tester

Outreach Nurse Theresa Tester in the Catching Lives medical room

For people experiencing homelessness, accessing healthcare is rarely straightforward. Appointments can feel out of reach, systems can feel unwelcoming and past experiences often make it harder to ask for help again. Outreach nurse Theresa Tester is working to change that.

Theresa has been in her role as an outreach nurse for three years and has been attending Catching Lives weekly through most of that time, supporting people who are sleeping rough, insecurely housed or at serious risk of homelessness.

Theresa said: “I work directly with individuals at the centre who are sleeping rough or experiencing severe housing instability, often in partnership with local services."

A central part of Theresa’s work is supporting people who have struggled to engage with mainstream services, often because of mental health challenges, substance use or previous negative experiences.

She added: “My role focuses on building trust and engagement with clients who often struggle to access mainstream services. A key part of what I do involves linking individuals with healthcare professionals, attending appointments with them where possible, supporting medication concordance, and advocating for access to appropriate mental and physical healthcare.”

Theresa attends Catching Lives once a week, and no two clinics look the same. Appointments are shaped by what each person needs in the moment.

Theresa said: “Appointments really depend on each client’s individual needs. Sometimes they’re very short if support can be given there and then; other times they may require onward referrals. My aim is always to support clients with whatever they need at the time of the visit.”

On particularly busy days, Theresa has seen up to 16 clients in a single clinic - a clear reflection of both the level of need and the value of having healthcare made accessible at our day centre.

Theresa said: “Catching Lives is a fantastic outreach centre. They have excellent facilities and provide clients with essential care, onward support and referrals. They also host many other agencies, making it a truly collaborative and supportive environment for the people who use the service.”

The recent extension of funding for Theresa’s role has allowed this work to continue consistently and reach more people across Canterbury and east Kent.

She said: “The extension of our funding has allowed me to continue this vital outreach work and maintain consistency in support. It has also strengthened our collaboration with mental health teams, GPs and addiction services, helping to reduce crisis interventions and improve overall health outcomes for clients.

“We’ve seen that sustained outreach makes a real difference. Especially for those who are otherwise disengaged from services, by breaking down barriers and offering persistent, person-centred support.”

“I absolutely love my role as an outreach nurse. It’s incredibly rewarding and gives me the opportunity to understand clients’ stories, where they are in their journey, and the type of support they need. I’ve never worked in such a diverse field, and I honestly couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.”