Purpose
Many homeless people have significant levels of early adverse experiences and consequent mental health difficulties. The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of residents and staff living and working in a psychologically informed environment (PIE), a new model of hostel for homeless people which aims to update and make more flexible the principles of the therapeutic community, thereby meeting the psychological and emotional needs of residents.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine residents, ten staff and five psychotherapists at two PIE hostels in London. The data were analysed using thematic analysis with a phenomenological epistemological approach.
Findings
Analysis generated 18 themes for residents and staff combined, organised into five domains: what makes a home, resident needs, managing relationships, reflective practice and theory vs practice of PIEs. The study suggests that PIEs broadly meet their aim in providing a different type of environment from standard hostels. Efforts to build relationships with residents are particularly prioritised. This work can be challenging for staff and reflective practice groups provide a supportive forum. There are limits to the extent to which the theoretical PIE can be put into practice in the current political and economic climate.
Originality/value
This is one of the first qualitative studies of PIEs. It provides perspectives on their theoretical background as well as how they operate and are experienced in practice. It may be informative to services intending to establish a PIE and to commissioners in assessing appropriate resources.
Aquestionnaire study of mentalheattb staff on a psyctdatrlc unit investigated their views aboUt occupational therapy. The study evaluated the attitudes to the role of the occupational therapist, the referral and assessment process, the Importance of therapeutic activities, and communication and feedback between occupational therapists and otherdISCiplines. Sixty..four out of 89 staff responded (72%}.Most respondents thought that occupational therapy should start wftItIn. a week of ·admfsalon, even though many referrals took much longer than this to arrive. There was some confu8Ionoverwbo. was responsible forgetttngthe patient to attend occupational therapy. AIthou&1l occupational therapywas._ to Increase people's conftdence, some staff suggested that patients should not attend untlthey· had gained conftdence. There was uncertainty about who should decide on a patient's sultabllityforoceupa.. tIonal therapy. In addition, there was a blurring of roles betWeen occupational therapists and other dlsclpllneS. Many staff were well able to r8COll'1se the main fUnctions of occupational therapy. However,· they were not confident about this and didnot fully apply this knowledge In their clinical practice. OCCupatIonal therapists were generally seenIn a positive IlgIIt. 'ThIs study emphasfses the Importance of better communication between occupational therapists and the other professions and, In particular, the need to ral.. the profile of occupational therapy within lOcal teaching programmes.
Purpose-This paper seeks to identify and remedy a fundamental absence of psychological thinking in the current conceptual framework underpinning services for homeless people. Design/methodology/approach-After describing the psychological limitations of current approaches to homelessness, an attempt is made to define what a psychologically-minded service culture would look like and the concept of ''re-homing'' is introduced. The concept of ''psychologically informed environment'' is explored as one important practical development in this direction. A brief case study is used to illustrate the power of re-homing. Findings-Findings and observations relating to the lack of psychologically-informed practice within current approaches to homelessness and mental health are reported. Originality/value-The originality of this paper lies in its identification of a clear psychological basis for limitations within the current service paradigm for homelessness people and its provision of a new and pragmatic concept of ''re-homing'' based on the psychological-mindedness that is already to be found in other aspects of human society and culture.
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