Implementing a psychologically informed environment in a service for homeless young people

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe the attempts by one youth homeiessness service to impiement the conceptuai ideas of the psychoiogicaiiy informed environment (PiE) into a practicai and beneticial service for very challenging young peopie who have been homeiess, are leaving care or have left custody Design/methodology/approach -The approach of the paper is descriptive, outiining the thinking behind a PiE with young people and the operationaiising of this understanding in the day-to-day practice of the service. Findings -Aithough homelessness and housing support staff are not therapists, the nature of the work entails a need for understanding and sensitivity, and the activities ot the service are designed to create positive opportunities and relationships. Retiective practice, supervision and evaiuation are then essentiai tools in deveioping a "learning organisation", where the collective dynamics at an organisationai level support the psychologicai work of the PiE. Research limitations/implications -The impiications for homeiessness work that can be drawn trom the outcome of this project is to better understand how the PIE linked to the concept ot a learning organisation can provide a truly robust framework tor providing a service that can evoive harmoniousiy tying in disparate funding streams to otter very chailenging young peopie an outstanding service that addresses their homeiessness and its underlying causes. Practical impiications -The practicai impiications shown are the psychological skiiis that can be deveioped in housing workers; the iimits ot those skiiis and how they are complemented by partnership work with other voiuntary sector organisations and mainstream heaith providers; how the ideas of the iearning organisation can naturaiiy underpin the work of the PIE. Originality/value -The combination ot the concept ot the iearning organisation, refiective practice and the PiE provides a highiy original and truly robust framework tor providing housing workers with the psychoiogicai toois to make a transformative difference in the iives of especially vulnerable young homeless people.

Evaluation of a financial skills training programme for vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness

“…Use of self is integral to creating a psychologically informed environment (PIE), reflecting 1625ip’s own PIE framework, which sees the quality, value and integrity of the relationships between staff and young people (Woodcock and Gill, 2014: 2) as a critical measure of successful intervention. 4.…”

“…And that rapport is about giving a little bit of yourself to someone as well. GaleUse of self is integral to creating a psychologically informed environment (PIE), reflecting 1625ip's own PIE framework, which sees the quality, value and integrity of the relationships between staff and young people (Woodcock and Gill, 2014: 2) as a critical measure of successful intervention. It's a group thing and comes with all the 'psychologically informed' stuff.…”

A Feasibility Study of the My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™) Program for Young People Experiencing Homelessness

“…In keeping with PYD, this theme suggests that young people were autonomously motivated to take on the challenges posed within the program and enjoyed having control over their own learning process; that is, acting as constructive agents in their own engagement [ 57 ]. In order to maximize engagement, this study has demonstrated that trust is an important factor [ 58 ]; this reinforces the need to encourage a supportive, relaxed [ 59 ], and psychologically informed environment (PIE; [ 60 ]), where facilitators play a key role and are young-person-led. Certainly, positive and mutually beneficial relationships are critical to adolescent development, providing opportunities for emotional connection and attachment, and are also central to achieving effective positive youth development by opening up new networks and resources [ 25 ].…”

Moving from ‘what we know works’ to ‘what we do in practice’: An evidence overview of implementation and diffusion of innovation in transition to adulthood for care experienced young people

“…This domain tried to improve the housing stability of care leavers and equip them with independent living skills. Accommodation innovations included Staying Put (permitting young people to remain with foster carers until 21 years) (Munro et al, 2012), the House Project (Dixon et al, 2020b;Dixon & Ward, 2017), Staying Close (improving, extending, and complementing the support provided by local authorities to residential care leavers during their transition to independent adulthood) (Allen et al, 2020;Dixon et al, 2020a;Heyes et al, 2020;Mitchell-Smith et al, 2020;Neagu & Dixon, 2020aO'Leary et al, 2020;Szifris et al, 2020), and a psychologically informed environment (Woodcock & Gill, 2014). A theory of change model was used in all the DfE Staying Close evaluations (Allen et al, 2020;Dixon et al, 2020a;Heyes et al, 2020;Mitchell-Smith et al, 2020;Neagu & Dixon, 2020aO'Leary et al, 2020;Szifris et al, 2020).…”