"Diversity"

A Psychologically Informed Environment is one that applies sensitivity to emotional and psychological issues to the process of service development. Through reflective practice and action learning, the staff team of any service begin to consider areas in their work where the service can become better attuned to the needs - and strengths - of the service users.

In principle, therefore, there should perhaps be no need for a special section on this site devoted to diversity, and to sensitivity to the particular needs of, for example, women, younger adults, ethnic minorities, rough sleepers, asylum seekers, etc etc. Diversity awareness should come as standard in any PIE.

But in practice, since the purpose of the site is to encourage shared learning, it may help to have some areas where we can address particular groups' needs. We have already begun looking into how PIEs would work more specifically with young people; and the MoJ are developing PIEs in the prison service setting, with new angles.

Three papers here look specifically at the development of a PIE approach with younger adults.

The first paper, "Implementing a Psychologically Informed Environment in a service for homeless young people", by Jeremy Woodcock and Jamie Gill, describes the work of 1625 Independent People, a service based in Bristol.

The second,  "Turmoil and Transition", by Jean Templeton, describes the work of St Basils' in Birmingham.

The third, "Meeting the needs of detached young runaways through PIEs" by Emilie Smeaton,  also stresses the need to recognise and support, in services, the fragile strengths and coping strategies of young people who run away from home or from care.

We have so far nothing that addresses women's issues in PIEs as a whole; but several that are concerned with particular gender-related issues, such as sex work.

In "The Gap project" Penny Edwards describes their harm minimisation work, stressing the need for long-term commitment, the slow building of trust and confidence.

In "Prison or the Priory; the work of One25" Gill Nowland, the CEO similarly talks over - this is a podcast - the slow pace, the steady growth, and the need to recognise the strengths of women who are managing their lives, but need on-going support, to keep safe, and to move on.

We also have a whole section devoted to domestic (or 'intimate partner') violence

 

 

 

 

"The Gap project" by Penny Edwards

"Prison or the Priory; the work of One25" a discussion with Gill Nowland and team

We also have a whole section devoted to domestic (or 'intimate partner') violence

  • NB: This is one of many excerpts from the book "Complex trauma and its effects; perspectives on creating an environment for recovery", edited by Robin Johnson and Rex Haigh (2012; and apparently now available on Kindle.).  We are currently working on a second edition.

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