“It’s raining, it’s pouring…..”
31.05.19 — This week my continued journey to develop a psychologically informed environment (PIE) across Centrepoint gave me a very early (4am!) start and led me to visit a very typically rainy Manchester, to a very special ‘frontline’ service; completely unique from other Centrepoint services across the country. The Manchester ‘hub’ or ‘City Centre’ project is the only completely ‘open door’ service in Centrepoint’s portfolio, where young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless can literally walk in off the street and request help. I met an amazing team of dedicated and experienced staff who are working with some of the most challenging and complex young people, who are often rough sleeping and presenting in crises; with significant mental health issues and/or intoxication with drugs and alcohol. This would be seen as challenging enough by most, but what I was really struck by was the building that the staff are operating from.
A psychologically informed environment (PIE) has many aspects, one of which is a consideration of the actual physical environment, both in terms of the fabric or layout of a building as well as the ‘psychological’ safety of those that use it. For example, is the space welcoming? Does it enable staff to undertake their roles to the best of their abilities? Are their confidential spaces to speak with young people? Is the building safe and secure; there are no areas that isolate staff or young people and place them at risk? Is light, noise and décor appropriate? Are the spaces well ventilated and furnished to match their use? Is there outside or green space? Do staff and young people have spaces to use for education, training and reflection? This is known as ‘evidence based design’ (www.healthdesign.org) and various organisations in the statutory sector have applied these design principles to ‘Enhance the Healing Environment’ (c.f. Kings Fund).
When I met with the staff in Manchester this week they talked about their challenges being the complexity of the young people they supported, and the need for more training in psychological approaches, as many other services have done. But for this service, the most important piece of the PIE was the physical environment. I was minded of how much our space is important to us, both in our homes as well as our workplaces, and how disorientating or difficult it can be when we do not have that space to exist within. In a way the staff were reflecting the ‘homeless’ experience of the young people they aimed to help. Their protection from the elements (or rain) was insufficient and impacting on them despite their continued and obvious attempts to deliver an outstanding service to the young people that need their help.
I am optimistic that with Centrepoint now utilising a PIE approach, coproducing a new space with the staff and young people that it will effect, ultimately a flagship hub building in Manchester can be created that staff and young people will be proud to inhabit, utilise and showcase. Although today it was definitely raining, or even pouring, perhaps eventually the sun will shine again in Manchester, or at very least there is a rainbow on the horizon…..
