Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England
Context: Many day centres for homeless people remained open during the first national lockdown in England following the COVID-19 pandemic. Lacking any official guidance on how to adapt, day centres for homeless people had to navigate risks of infection and changes in the situation of homeless peopl...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
LSE Press
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Long-Term Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/65 |
| _version_ | 1797630553986433024 |
|---|---|
| author | Caroline Emmer De Albuquerque Green Jill Manthorpe Kritika Samsi Stan Burridge |
| author_facet | Caroline Emmer De Albuquerque Green Jill Manthorpe Kritika Samsi Stan Burridge |
| author_sort | Caroline Emmer De Albuquerque Green |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Context: Many day centres for homeless people remained open during the first national lockdown in England following the COVID-19 pandemic. Lacking any official guidance on how to adapt, day centres for homeless people had to navigate risks of infection and changes in the situation of homeless people during this time.
Objective: This small study aimed to discover how some day centres for homeless people approached and experienced the implications of lockdown. The objective was to draw early learning points to inform further research on the future trajectory of day centre provision for homeless people during the pandemic and beyond.
Methods: This rapid qualitative study included semi-structured phone interviews with day centre managers (n = 5) and a systematic search of public facing websites of day centres (n = 10) across four South London boroughs. Data were analysed inductively, using the framework method.
Findings: Findings indicate three learning points 1: the importance of strong networks between day centres with local authorities and other organisations for homeless people to enable services to provide humanitarian assistance, 2: the significance of day centres in their role as humanitarian assistants as a first point of contact for newly homeless people 3: the value of a central information hub.
Limitations: The regional focus on South London and the sample size, which reflects ethical imperatives involved in avoiding undue pressure on day centre staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, limit this study. The findings are to be considered as a springboard for in-depth research into day centres’ support for homeless people during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Implications: Findings are valuable as a snapshot of this largely under-researched group of services and service users during the first lockdown. Further research based on the findings could lead to good practice examples to inform the future trajectory of social care provision for homeless people.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:09:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bcd109e56afd40f899f6fc21d0f48b81 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2516-9122 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:09:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | LSE Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Long-Term Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-bcd109e56afd40f899f6fc21d0f48b812023-11-12T06:24:51ZengLSE PressJournal of Long-Term Care2516-91222021-11-012021Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in EnglandCaroline Emmer De Albuquerque Green0Jill Manthorpe1Kritika Samsi2Stan Burridge3King’s College LondonKing’s College LondonKing’s College LondonKing’s College London Context: Many day centres for homeless people remained open during the first national lockdown in England following the COVID-19 pandemic. Lacking any official guidance on how to adapt, day centres for homeless people had to navigate risks of infection and changes in the situation of homeless people during this time. Objective: This small study aimed to discover how some day centres for homeless people approached and experienced the implications of lockdown. The objective was to draw early learning points to inform further research on the future trajectory of day centre provision for homeless people during the pandemic and beyond. Methods: This rapid qualitative study included semi-structured phone interviews with day centre managers (n = 5) and a systematic search of public facing websites of day centres (n = 10) across four South London boroughs. Data were analysed inductively, using the framework method. Findings: Findings indicate three learning points 1: the importance of strong networks between day centres with local authorities and other organisations for homeless people to enable services to provide humanitarian assistance, 2: the significance of day centres in their role as humanitarian assistants as a first point of contact for newly homeless people 3: the value of a central information hub. Limitations: The regional focus on South London and the sample size, which reflects ethical imperatives involved in avoiding undue pressure on day centre staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, limit this study. The findings are to be considered as a springboard for in-depth research into day centres’ support for homeless people during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications: Findings are valuable as a snapshot of this largely under-researched group of services and service users during the first lockdown. Further research based on the findings could lead to good practice examples to inform the future trajectory of social care provision for homeless people. https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/65Homelessnessday centresCOVID-19 pandemiclockdownrough sleeping |
| spellingShingle | Caroline Emmer De Albuquerque Green Jill Manthorpe Kritika Samsi Stan Burridge Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England Journal of Long-Term Care Homelessness day centres COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rough sleeping |
| title | Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England |
| title_full | Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England |
| title_fullStr | Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England |
| title_full_unstemmed | Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England |
| title_short | Day Centres for Homeless People in South London: Early Learning Points from Operating During the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England |
| title_sort | day centres for homeless people in south london early learning points from operating during the first covid 19 lockdown in england |
| topic | Homelessness day centres COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rough sleeping |
| url | https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/65 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carolineemmerdealbuquerquegreen daycentresforhomelesspeopleinsouthlondonearlylearningpointsfromoperatingduringthefirstcovid19lockdowninengland AT jillmanthorpe daycentresforhomelesspeopleinsouthlondonearlylearningpointsfromoperatingduringthefirstcovid19lockdowninengland AT kritikasamsi daycentresforhomelesspeopleinsouthlondonearlylearningpointsfromoperatingduringthefirstcovid19lockdowninengland AT stanburridge daycentresforhomelesspeopleinsouthlondonearlylearningpointsfromoperatingduringthefirstcovid19lockdowninengland |