1. Andy Warriner - Area Manager, Places for People 16th September 2015
Psychologically Informed Environments
Creating a Psychologically Informed Environment in Sheltered / Extra Care Housing
Andy Warriner - Area Manager, Places for People
16th September 2015

2. Psychologically Informed Environments… PIE
A different type of PIE

3. Psychologically Informed Environments
PIEs aim to create:
“an empowering and calming environment where people can feel emotionally as well as physically safe, and can gain an understanding of their behaviour and an ability to take responsibility for themselves.”
Peter Cockersell
Director of Health and Recovery
St Mungo’s

4. Psychologically Informed Environments
Key areas to consider:
Psychological Framework - holistic
Environment – staff and customers
Staff Training / Support
Managing Relationships
Evaluation of Outcomes

5. Psychologically Informed Environments
Why?
Staff development, well being & increased set of skills e.g. greater awareness of some psychological theories and application of these
Customers with a higher threshold of needs/ complex needs presenting at services/ schemes
Increase in issues related to substance misuse / mental health
Fits with the culture / ethos (SPIRIT values) of Places for People

6. Complex Trauma & Associated Behaviours
Psychologically Informed Environments
Complex Trauma & Associated Behaviours
Major life events e.g. bereavement, homelessness, relationship breakdown
Long term health conditions
Uncontrolled substance misuse e.g. alcohol use
Withdrawn, reluctant to engage / isolated
Anti-social behaviour
Lacking daily structure or routine
Unstable / inability to sustain relationships

7. CLG Good practice guide and Robin Johnson, RJA Consultancy
Psychologically Informed Environments
How?
4 stages
Research
CLG Good practice guide and Robin Johnson, RJA Consultancy
Training
bespoke sessions for managers/team leaders & cascade training
Embed
Business plan/ongoing training/support & role of champions
Monitor and review
Current position & longer term evaluation & validation

8. What? 4 main aspects to the approach
Psychologically Informed Environments
What?
4 main aspects to the approach
Psychology theory & mental health awareness / recovery approach
Skills – mental health & person centred support planning tools & outcome based support planning
Creating an enabling environment
Reflective Practice –consistent approach

9. What difference? Improved customer engagement
Psychologically Informed Environments
What difference?
Improved customer engagement
Improved customer outcomes – health & wellbeing & reduction in incidents/ ASB
Services able to support customers with higher complex needs for longer
Improved staff engagement & morale
Improved physical / cultural environment
Tenancy sustainment
Reduced hospital admissions

10. Examples – Improved outcomes
Psychologically Informed Environments
Examples – Improved outcomes
Salford Foyer Project
(16-25 year olds)
Support staff held reflective practice sessions with local Drugs & Alcohol Team / shared PIE learning
Outcomes:
Staff delivering level 1 screening & level 2 interventions to customers by using tools used in PIE approach e.g. motivational interviewing, chain analysis and force field analysis, wheel of change.  
Approx 50% reduction in incidents and Anti-social behaviour
Higher levels of customer engagement
Lower threshold needs met

11. Examples - continued Psychologically Informed Environments
Bristol Complex Needs Service
Service model includes a part time Reflective Practice Manager and a part time Substance Misuse Counsellor. 
Outcomes:
Onsite advice
Initial assessments for treatment processed quickly
Lower referral refusal rates- able to support higher complex needs

12. Examples - continued Psychologically Informed Environments
Older Persons PIE
Further customised training for older person staff to make the PIE concept meaningful for them
Application of 'elastic tolerance' principle
Revised practices in procurement of furniture, furnishings and redecoration
Allocation policy review

13. Thank you ANY QUESTIONS ? Contact details:

14. Useful links
Johnson R & Haigh R, (2011) “Social Psychiatry and Social Policy for the 21st Century - new concepts for new needs: enabling environments” in Mental Health & Social Inclusion, Vol 15 Issue 1. Available at:
Keats H, Cockersell P, Johnson R & Maguire N (2012) Psychologically informed services for homeless people (Good Practice Guide) Now available at:
Peter Cockersell, (2011),"More for less? Using PIEs and recovery to improve efficiency in supported housing", Housing, Care and Support, Vol. 14 Issue: 2 pp. 45 – 50