Going Beyond: Homeless Link Practice Podcast

People experiencing homelessness visit A&E three times more often than the general public but attending can be stressful and challenging. Issues such as communication barriers, mental health problems, complex trauma and addictions frequently combine with practical issues and anxiety over being judged and stigmatised.   This podcast features guest speaker Sam Dorney-Smith, Nursing Fellow at Pat...

In Episode 5, we speak to David Gill, Founder of Risk & Resilience Training & Consultancy and Ben Davy, Reset Outreach & Referral Manager at Providence Row. We discuss the complex barriers to treatment services, the importance of understanding the cycle of change, and the role of peer mentors in providing support to people using drugs and alcohol. 

In Episode 4, we speak to Ellie McNeil, Chief Executive for YMCA Together and Kevin Flemen, Founder and Manager of the drug awareness service KFx. We speak about drug use in supported accommodation and the importance of policies in this area.

In Episode 3, we speak to Fiona McCormack and Sarah Page from Staffordshire University. We speak about women's use of substances, the barriers to access and engagement in support, and best practice for frontline workers.

In Episode 2, we speak to Chris Rintoul, Head of Harm Reduction for Cranstoun. We speak about how harm reduction approaches compare to abstinence-based recovery and how frontline workers can approach conversations with people who are using substances. 

In Episode 1, we speak to Oliver Standing, Director of Communications and External Affairs at Humankind Charity and Debra Hertzberg, Research Manager at Homeless Link. We discuss the reasons behind the high prevalence of drug and alcohol use for people experiencing homelessness and question whether the system allows adequate support for those most in need.

In Episode 5, we speak with Dr Stephen Weatherhead, clinical psychologist and co-director of NeuroTriage.  We talk about the prevalence and impact of brain injury for people experiencing homelessness, and how best to support these individuals. 

In Episode 4, we talk to Barney Wells and Rachel Brown from EASL (Enabling Assessments Service London). We discuss the reasons behind why someone might self-neglect and think about how and when frontline workers should intervene. 

In Episode 3, we talk to Hannah & Fraser from P3 charity who work in their hoarding teams. We discuss the reasons why someone might hoard and talk about the most effective ways frontline staff can support these individuals. 

In Episode 2, we speak to Taylor from Single Homeless Project along with Oscar & Jan from Groundswell. We talk about the barriers people experiencing homelessness face in accessing physical health care and think about how frontline workers can approach conversations about health. 

In Episode 1 of Season 3, we speak to Adam Clayton & Dr Michelle Hacking from Greater Manchester NHS Mental Health Trust. We talk about the link between homelessness and co-occurring conditions & discuss what good practice looks like.

In the final episode of Series 2, we speak with Alex, Viv, Lauren & Vicky from the National Practice Development Team at Homeless Link. We use this episode to reflect on the series as a whole, discuss the key messages and talk about anything which resonated with us. 

In Episode 6, we speak with Nick Karr, registered psychotherapist and reflective practice facilitator. We are also joined by Neal McArdle, Head of Learning & Training at Providence Row. We discuss the importance of reflective practice and talk about practical ways of embedding it within every day working life. 

In Episode 5, we speak with Dr Emma Williamson, consultant clinical psychologist, and clinical lead at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Psychology in Hostels project. We discuss why it is so important to allow time to debrief after an incident, and go through different models of critical incident debriefing. 

In Episode 4, we speak with Dr Aliénor (Lili) Lemieux-Cumberlege, Clinical Psychologist working across two community mental health teams in Edinburgh.  We discuss the differences between vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress and burnout and the impact these can have on frontline staff. We talk about resilience and discuss what organisations can do to support staff.

In Episode 3, we talk to Ben Neal, independent organisational consultant and coach. We discuss why people come to work in the homelessness sector and how this plays out in the way they deliver their work, looking at how our boundaries can often be pushed.

In Episode 2, we hear from Andy Phee, mindfulness practitioner and teacher at Oxford University’s Mindfulness Centre. We discuss what mindfulness is, go through some simple grounding exercises and talk about how we can use mindfulness to unpack stress in daily life.

In Episode 1 of season 2, Dr Nick Maguire, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at The University of Southampton talks about what drives the feeling of burnout for people working in the homelessness sector and discusses ways in which to stop ruminating about work-related stress. 

In episodes two and three Dr Nick Maguire, Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Southampton, talks about different types of attachment and how these early experiences manifest in adult behaviours. 

In episode five we talk to Amanda Croome, CEO at the Booth Centre in Manchester about how their day centre aims to increase the feeling of control people have over their lives. “It’s important people feel it’s their centre, not my centre or the staff’s centre” she says. , “We find that if they feel they have some choice and the ability to influence their environment they take that experience into...

In episode four we hear from Nikoletta Theodorou, who recently completed a PhD thesis at Herriott Watt University entitled ‘Multiple Exclusion Homelessness, attachment and relationship with care: A missing link?’. Her work focused on how people’s different attachment styles can affect access to services. 

In episodes two and three Dr Nick Maguire, Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Southampton, talks about different types of attachment and how these early experiences manifest in adult behaviours. 

In Episode 1, we explore how relationship-based approaches can help homelessness services work more effectively with people who’ve experienced trauma