'It's not just a lot of words'. A qualitative exploration of residents' descriptions of helpful relationships in supportive housing. Issue 1 (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lindvig, Gunnhild Ruud; Larsen, Inger Beate; Topor, Alain; Bøe, Tore Dag
• Is Part Of: European journal of social work. Volume 25:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: Professional relationships -- supportive housing -- helpful help -- mutuality -- doings; profesjonelle relasjoner -- bofellesskap -- hjelpsom hjelp -- gjensidighet -- handlinger; Social service -- Europe -- Periodicals; Social service -- Vocational guidance -- Europe -- Periodicals; 361.3209405
• DOI: 10.1080/13691457.2019.1682523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-1457

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article explores how professional relationships may be helpful from the perspective of residents in staffed supportive housing for individuals with severe mental health and/or drug problems. Using in-dept interviews, residents were individually asked to describe a helpful relationship with a self-chosen staff member, the content of the help provided by this staff member and how this help influenced their lives. Using thematic analysis, we found that the residents described mutual relationships that resembled friendships and helpful staff members who carried out a variety of doings. Four domains of doings were identified: small human gestures, filling the hours with 'friendship', enabling the residents to take care of their own needs and fighting on behalf of the residents to ensure rights and benefits. To some of the residents, these doings had life-changing impact. We propose that service management within relationship-based practices should be open for friendship resemblance when matching professionals and service users and make room for a diversity of doings rooted in the service users' perceived needs.