‘Listening to the data — making psychologically informed decisions in policy and practice’.
12.03.2020: As I reflect on the past week in my role as Centrepoint’s Lead for Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), as well as continuing to roll out our PIE training for staff across the organisation, my thoughts have naturally been dominated by the ongoing Corona Virus News Headlines, and the business continuity planning that the organisation is undertaking. This is naturally a very anxious time, particularly for those in the high-risk age categories or those with pre-existing physical health conditions that increase their risk. Individuals experiencing homelessness can often be disenfranchised from existing statutory health services, for various reasons including systemic as well as individual (c.f.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/homeless-healthcare-rough-sleepers-uk-gp-doctor-a9005811.html) and therefore are at particular risk as carriers as well as victims of this current ‘pandemic’.
Consequently, Centrepoint, as with many charities, have therefore developed appropriate business continuity plans and will be working closely with our partners to support our staff and the homeless young people within our services, based on the latest scientific and medical advice over the next few weeks and months. Sadly but unsurprisingly in light of the latest advice, this means that our National Youth Homelessness Conference I advertised in this blog last week, has been postponed until October, and I will provide more details when a revised date is known. Of course, as a psychologist, and an evidence-based practitioner, I am used to considering my actions in light of the research evidence / available science, and therefore when managing my own anxiety about the current situation (and the risk to my elderly family members), I have been reflecting upon ‘What does the data say?’
Within any psychologically informed approach, such as PIE, it is important to ensure that any actions taken are always based on the best available evidence, and to collect data and evidence during any processes to constantly reflect upon, modify and adapt our approaches accordingly. In the PIE Good Practice Guide, Keats et al (2012) specifically argue for the important role of research and the evaluation of any outcomes within a PIE, noting that ‘If you do not know what impact what you do or say is having, how can you know whether it is positive and how you can improve it? … There is not a great mystique about evaluation: it is the opportunity to know which things you do or say are effective in what situations and with whom. It is an opportunity for staff and clients to learn’ (p.26) (c.f. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/340022/1/Good%2520practice%2520guide%2520-%2520%2520Psychologically%2520informed%2520services%2520for%2520homeless%2520people%2520.pdf)
This means that our Centrepoint PIE is being evaluated in terms of both objective measures (e.g. risk incidents, evictions, outcomes for homeless young people and staff) as well as subjective measures (e.g. staff and homeless young peoples’ attitudes, opinions and knowledge) in conjunction with our academic partners at the University of Southampton. This evaluation will hopefully contribute to the research evidence and literature to date indicating that PIE approaches do demonstrate positive outcomes; including increased service user engagement, staff satisfaction and EET (Education, Employment & Training post housing) rates, and decreased evictions / incidents (e.g. Cockersell, 2011; Stronge & Williamson, 2014; Phipps et al, 2017).
However, Centrepoint also has a long history of also using its data more broadly than just considering our internal practice(s), rather it has also used the wealth of information, data and knowledge we have about youth homelessness to lobby and campaign for changes to social policy that impact on homeless young people. It was particularly exciting to be in the Head Office in London this week, when the UK Government budget was announced and the impact of some of this work came to fruition (c.f. https://twitter.com/centrepointuk/status/1237741043694665729). Specifically, the UK Government announced that young people leaving hostel accommodation and care will be exempt from the Shared Accommodation Rate of Local Housing Allowance, thereby ensuring that they can successfully ‘move on’ to their own housing options post-Centrepoint having sufficient financial support. This policy change follows years of campaigning and behind the scenes policy influencing by Centrepoint, most notably our ‘Chance To Move On’ campaign, which engaged Centrepoint supporters during our 50th anniversary year. This campaign relied on the evidence and data as to why the government’s current policy was problematic and needed to be changed, as well as successfully mobilising over 20,000+ people signing a petition, which was handed in to Downing Street by our CEO; Seyi Obakin and some Centrepoint Young People and staff recently (see picture above). This shows the power of numbers; data and evidence in order to effect meaningful change and something that I would argue psychologists should be involved with more often, particularly when considering the psychological impact of some social policies (e.g. http://www.psychchange.org/).
These days we live in such as data driven society, and we routinely collect such a huge amount of information about everything! Consequently, whilst it has sometimes felt to me that the world seemed to have ‘tired of experts and research’ recently, the recent crises has highlighted again, that in such a global world with so much information and data at our fingertips, it would be remiss of us not to use this for positive gains. We can make great advances in understanding everything from our day-to-day practice to UK specific social policies, and beyond to the wider global concerns that are effecting us as a species, such as Corona Virus, if we pay attention to the science, the data and the research. Being psychologically informed in whatever sphere we work and live in, means doing just this, and ultimately using data and research evidence to its fullest powerful potential to do good, #changethestory, #endyouthhomelessless, and potentially save lives …
