Developing a psychological approach: the Wellbeing Service for homeless and vulnerably housed people in Bristol

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a commentary on Psychologically Informed Services: A Good Practice Guide, a recently published operational guidance document on developing psychologically informed environments in services for homeless people.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an invited opinion piece and comment based on the specialist experience and viewpoint of the author as a clinical psychologist working in a primary care mental health service for homeless people, The Wellbeing Service in Bristol.

Findings

The paper is an account of the Wellbeing Service with a mixture of paid staff and volunteers, some of whom are experts by experience. The approach is outlined, with a description of a number of individual, group work and other engagement opportunities offered at various potential entry points. The pathway is then illustrated through the example of one individual, told largely in his own words.

Originality/value

The journeys of recovery are not straightforward and are rarely linear and services need to work hard to ensure that we engage people at the point where they currently are, allowing for them to drop out but, crucially, enabling them to return.

Citation

Blackburn, P.J. (2012), "Developing a psychological approach: the Wellbeing Service for homeless and vulnerably housed people in Bristol", Housing, Care and Support, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/14608791211254180