Change readiness in individuals experiencing homelessness and multiple complex needs

Lord, A, Tickle, A and Buckell, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4716-8321, 2021. Change readiness in individuals experiencing homelessness and multiple complex needs. Housing, Care and Support. ISSN 1460-8790

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Abstract

Purpose: To understand how staff in homelessness services conceptualise readiness for change in the individuals they support and how this informs their decision making in practice.

Design: A qualitative design was employed. Ten staff members participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were examined through inductive-deductive thematic analysis, utilizing a social constructivist epistemological lens.

Findings: Five main themes were constructed: 'multiple complex needs mean multiple complex changes', 'talk versus behaviour', 'change is not a linear trajectory', 'the role of consistent boundaried relationships' and 'change is not solely within the individual's control'.

Originality: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore staff members’ conceptualisations of readiness to change in relation to individuals with multiple complex needs and how this might influence practice.

Practical Implications: This research challenges existing notions of 'readiness for change' as located within individuals and a prerequisite for utilising support from services. It has implications for staff and services, particularly those which are time-limited and address only single problems; service users may not be ready for some changes but it should not be assumed they are not ready for change in other areas of their life. The offer of supportive relationships may precede and contribute to readiness for positive changes. Support should not be offered based solely on an individual's intra-psychic readiness for change, but also on how the system might actively work to promote hope that change can be achieved and maintained.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Housing, Care and Support
Creators:	Lord, A., Tickle, A. and Buckell, A.
Publisher:	Emerald
Date:	7 May 2021
ISSN:	1460-8790
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1108/hcs-11-2020-0017 DOI 1443613 Other
Rights:	Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	07 Jun 2021 11:54
Last Modified:	07 Jun 2021 11:54
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/42998

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