Robin Johnson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Robin Johnson

This paper outlines how psychological factors related to traumatic experience and personality dis... more This paper outlines how psychological factors related to traumatic experience and personality disorder are associated with chronic homelessness. It reports a systematic review of the literature which supports the conclusion that psychological disorders strongly predict homelessness and provides indicative evidence that psychological interventions can improve the life chances of homeless people. It concludes that additional research is required both to establish the most effective psychological interventions for chronic homelessness in the UK cultural context, and to evaluate the effective transfer of research knowledge from research to service delivery settings.

The purpose of this paper is to help providers and commissioners develop or remodel services in o... more The purpose of this paper is to help providers and commissioners develop or remodel services in order to address identified emotional and psychological issues amongst rough sleepers and young homeless people.

Mental Health and Social Inclusion

This paper is the final part of a trilogy, on updating of the Post War concept of a therapeutic c... more This paper is the final part of a trilogy, on updating of the Post War concept of a therapeutic community for the 21st Century - and era of community care, public health, and increasuing cioncern over the mental health of the population at large. The first paper introduced the concept of a "psychogically informed environment;"in homelessness and criminal justice settings; the second introduced the wider framework of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' "enabling environments" programme; and this third paper relates these emerging ideas to contemporary community care and public health concerns, such as social inclusion policies, social capital, and the "Big Society".

A wide ranging anaysis of the life course of complex psychological and emotional trauma, covering... more A wide ranging anaysis of the life course of complex psychological and emotional trauma, covering insights from epidemiology (esp. re: un-diagnosed personality disorder), contemporary neuroscience, psychology, sociology, systems analysis and social policy. The extensive central section consists of accounts and edited interviews with practitioners developing innovative responses, across all age ranges. The third and final section considers social policy responses, ranging from the Post War therapeutic community movement to the Big Society, with particular reference to "psychologically informed environments" and other "enabling environments". NB: there is also now a companion website: http://www.complextraumarecoveryenvironments.org.uk/ where many of thes ideas are further explored and the content updated.

Housing, Care and Support, 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the origins of the concept of a psychologically informed envir... more PurposeThis paper aims to describe the origins of the concept of a psychologically informed environment (PIE), as now adopted and applied in homelessness resettlement, placing this in the context of work recently carried out under the aegis of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality Improvement to recognise and promote “enabling environments” in all areas of social practice.Design/methodology/approachThis paper gives an historical account of the contemporary development of new thinking and practical applications for enhancing community mental health and well‐being.FindingsThe concept of an enabling environment (EE) arose out of efforts to up‐date for the twenty‐first century the post‐war concept of a therapeutic community, for all services working with the same basic core values and psycho‐social awareness. The EE approach now applies this framework more flexibly, yet with a clear operational focus in each sector, to a wider range of organisational contexts, socia...

Business Ethics Quarterly, 2007

ABSTRACT: Not so long ago I interviewed a computer engineer in her home. Surrounded with toys and... more ABSTRACT: Not so long ago I interviewed a computer engineer in her home. Surrounded with toys and a napping baby—the interview time had been chosen carefully—she talked about how she worked as an independent contractor for a large electronics company. Connected by high-speed broadband, two telephone lines, and a cell phone, she felt fully integrated into the work, exchanging electronic files with her colleagues and having telephone conversations with customers two continents and umpteen time zones away. She told me she often worked late after the baby was in bed and during the…

Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 2013

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conclude a two-part review of past and current approach... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conclude a two-part review of past and current approaches to meeting the more “complex” needs of individuals in the UK context. It explores the dilemmas of commissioning, the development of personalisation approaches in funding or care planning mechanisms, the need to address power relations and lessons from the introduction of the role of a “lead professional” in the Care Programme Approach (CPA), concluding with the development of more systemic approaches at locality level. Design/methodology/approach – This, being the second of two papers, extends the historical narrative approach of Part 1 to the analysis of the term “complex needs” and its role in contemporary service delivery. Findings – The first responsibility of services has been to find ways to engage these more “at risk” individuals and their needs more effectively; and innovation and guidance on this is valuable. But the paper also needs to address the nature of the net itself, t...

Housing, Care and Support, 2011

PurposeThis paper is an extended review and expert commentary on a recently published study by th... more PurposeThis paper is an extended review and expert commentary on a recently published study by the Centre for Housing Policy (CHP) which discusses the complexities of research in “housing related support” in the UK context, and proposes further work. This review aims to explore the strengths and limitations of the study; and the potential wider relevance outside the UK research context.Design/methodology/approachThe review methodology is traditionally that of expert opinion. The reviewer draws upon previous evaluation studies of mental health and housing, commissioned by the UK Dept of Health, the (Dept of) Communities and Local Government, the National Institute for Mental Health in England, and the Care Services Improvement Partnership, including additional material on the Mental Health Minimum Dataset.FindingsThe CHP report reviewed raises important questions over the complexities of evidencing innovative services. Despite some omissions, it should be helpful to health local comm...

A Life in the Day, 2009

Robin Johnson continues his excellent series on housing issues, this time exploring the important... more Robin Johnson continues his excellent series on housing issues, this time exploring the important role that support workers can have in reaching out to and engaging with individuals who would ordinarily be reluctant to put themseves in the hands of conventional care or therapy services.

Journal of Public Mental Health, 2010

This paper is an account of the discussions and recommendations by the exper t advisory panel on ... more This paper is an account of the discussions and recommendations by the exper t advisory panel on potential metrics and ‘sentinel indicators’ for improved outcomes in housing and mental health, as par t of an inter-agency seminar called to advise on the development of metrics and measures for community mental health, for Fair Society, Healthy Lives: The Marmot Review (Marmot,

Housing, Care and Support, 2009

... The overall effectiveness of inter-agency liaison over vulnerable individuals could also be .... more ... The overall effectiveness of inter-agency liaison over vulnerable individuals could also be ... and data in moving towards greater autonomy for individuals in supported living would significantly ... the supply of suitable general needs housing, and of supported accommodation, for the ...

Housing, Care and Support, 2013

Purpose-This paper aims to present an overview of the current state of evidence on the effect of ... more Purpose-This paper aims to present an overview of the current state of evidence on the effect of housing circumstances, and housing-related interventions, on adult mental health and well-being. It covers the entire range of health from chronic illness to positive thriving, and both individual and community-level/public health. Design/methodology/approach-The paper is based upon a purposive review, commissioned originally for the UK Department of Health; and therefore is selective in giving priority to research relevant to public policy considerations, and to the UK context. Research with a variety of methodological foundations is considered, where robust enough by its own standards. Findings-The available evidence gives conditional support to policies accentuating empowerment at individual and community levels; early intervention; locality or place-based interventions; and integrated working practice. The complexity of methodological issues emerges as a key challenge for research in this field, and for the prospect of evidence-based national policy. Meanwhile local knowledge and interpretation of data in context may be more reliable than context-blind studies. Research limitations/implications-Where ''hard evidence'' is unavailable, reports of the lived experience of individuals and in communities remain a legitimate basis for policy and commissioning.

Housing, Care and Support, 2004

Social inclusion means ensuring that all individuals, despite any particular perceived ‘different... more Social inclusion means ensuring that all individuals, despite any particular perceived ‘differentness’ (Sayce, 2000; Harrison & Davis, 2001) or disadvantage in life, may nevertheless feel at home in the world and find a sense of belonging in their local community. But the most important place to feel at home is at home.

Housing, Care and Support, 2005

ABSTRACT The Social Exclusion Unit's report on mental health, published in the summer of ... more ABSTRACT The Social Exclusion Unit's report on mental health, published in the summer of 2004, had surprisingly little to say about housing. But behind the scenes there has been a ferment of activity, and the National Institute for Mental Health for England (NIMHE) has been given the lead role in advancing all central government efforts to create a more joined-up vision of mental health for the 21st century. NIMHE has taken the lead on implementation of the SEU's conclusions, and much more besides. A National Project Team on mental health and housing is to come together next year, with a wide-ranging brief. This article looks at some of the issues that this new body will take on, including a new focus on research on the links between poor mental health and poor housing, and on evaluation of ‘housing-based solutions’. As NIMHE itself is absorbed from April into the new Care Services Improvement Partnership, the prospects for linking housing with the community care modernisation agenda must be looking up.

Mental health today (Brighton, England)

Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 2011

SOCIAL POLICY and to encourage new practice. Either way, the recognition of the significance of r... more SOCIAL POLICY and to encourage new practice. Either way, the recognition of the significance of related-ness (Putnam, 2000; Christakis & Fowler, 2009; Norman, 2010), is central to any efforts to enhance mental health and to improve the health of the nation. This is the foundation of 'the new social psychiatry'. The first article in this series (Johnson & Haigh, 2010) described one such concept: the 'psychologically-informed environment', or 'PIE'. The PIE originally arose out of the need to recognise and to work with the levels of emotional trauma that accompany, and in many cases precede, an individual becoming homeless. It is a new approach or framework whose original aim was to recognise 'Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life; where they learn, work, play and love.' (World Health Organization, 1986

A Life in the Day, 2008

Julian Housing Support Trust Ltd (JHS) was set up in 1990 as a registered charity to provide supp... more Julian Housing Support Trust Ltd (JHS) was set up in 1990 as a registered charity to provide support throughout Norfolk to people experiencing serious and ongoing mental health problems. Julian Housing does not itself own any accommodation, but works with ...

Housing, Care and Support, 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to comment on current evolving UK policy in public health and soc... more PurposeThe aim of this paper is to comment on current evolving UK policy in public health and social housing; and especially to outline “blind spots” in conventional health research approaches that have tended to obscure the evidence and potential in collaborative working.Design/methodology/approachThe paper summarises policy developments, in the light of recent relevant research. Mental health is used as an example.FindingsPublic health policy in the UK is new and rapidly developing; but the evidence base remains scattered across different disciplines and their various disparate communication channels. Any new public health strategy focussed on health inequalities needs to recognise the role that social housing already plays in supporting concentrations of the more vulnerable. Better recognition of the everyday social and especially mental health problems that social housing staff deal with illustrates the central role of housing management as the defining factor in social housing,...

Housing, Care and Support, 2008

This article calls for better co‐operation and co‐ordination between mental health and housing su... more This article calls for better co‐operation and co‐ordination between mental health and housing support services, and greater recognition of the important role of social housing in community mental health care.

Housing, Care and Support, 2008

The new local government performance framework, in combination with the move towards greater pers... more The new local government performance framework, in combination with the move towards greater personalisation in services, creates a radically new funding environment for housing with care and support. From the Public Service Agreement (PSA) on achieving settled accommodation for individuals at risk of exclusion, through to the impact of individual budgets, the principles and mechanisms of the new joint commissioning culture create more opportunities for providers to articulate the needs of the client group served, and to assert the case for more joined-up and responsive services. This may require different skills and new styles of leadership at local level, and providers who have become adept at being competitors may need to rediscover the skills of partnership. Meanwhile, new social inclusion policy frameworks are emerging for supported accommodation, which can support moves away from institutional care for those with mental health problems.

This paper outlines how psychological factors related to traumatic experience and personality dis... more This paper outlines how psychological factors related to traumatic experience and personality disorder are associated with chronic homelessness. It reports a systematic review of the literature which supports the conclusion that psychological disorders strongly predict homelessness and provides indicative evidence that psychological interventions can improve the life chances of homeless people. It concludes that additional research is required both to establish the most effective psychological interventions for chronic homelessness in the UK cultural context, and to evaluate the effective transfer of research knowledge from research to service delivery settings.

The purpose of this paper is to help providers and commissioners develop or remodel services in o... more The purpose of this paper is to help providers and commissioners develop or remodel services in order to address identified emotional and psychological issues amongst rough sleepers and young homeless people.

Mental Health and Social Inclusion

This paper is the final part of a trilogy, on updating of the Post War concept of a therapeutic c... more This paper is the final part of a trilogy, on updating of the Post War concept of a therapeutic community for the 21st Century - and era of community care, public health, and increasuing cioncern over the mental health of the population at large. The first paper introduced the concept of a "psychogically informed environment;"in homelessness and criminal justice settings; the second introduced the wider framework of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' "enabling environments" programme; and this third paper relates these emerging ideas to contemporary community care and public health concerns, such as social inclusion policies, social capital, and the "Big Society".

A wide ranging anaysis of the life course of complex psychological and emotional trauma, covering... more A wide ranging anaysis of the life course of complex psychological and emotional trauma, covering insights from epidemiology (esp. re: un-diagnosed personality disorder), contemporary neuroscience, psychology, sociology, systems analysis and social policy. The extensive central section consists of accounts and edited interviews with practitioners developing innovative responses, across all age ranges. The third and final section considers social policy responses, ranging from the Post War therapeutic community movement to the Big Society, with particular reference to "psychologically informed environments" and other "enabling environments". NB: there is also now a companion website: http://www.complextraumarecoveryenvironments.org.uk/ where many of thes ideas are further explored and the content updated.

Housing, Care and Support, 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the origins of the concept of a psychologically informed envir... more PurposeThis paper aims to describe the origins of the concept of a psychologically informed environment (PIE), as now adopted and applied in homelessness resettlement, placing this in the context of work recently carried out under the aegis of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality Improvement to recognise and promote “enabling environments” in all areas of social practice.Design/methodology/approachThis paper gives an historical account of the contemporary development of new thinking and practical applications for enhancing community mental health and well‐being.FindingsThe concept of an enabling environment (EE) arose out of efforts to up‐date for the twenty‐first century the post‐war concept of a therapeutic community, for all services working with the same basic core values and psycho‐social awareness. The EE approach now applies this framework more flexibly, yet with a clear operational focus in each sector, to a wider range of organisational contexts, socia...

Business Ethics Quarterly, 2007

ABSTRACT: Not so long ago I interviewed a computer engineer in her home. Surrounded with toys and... more ABSTRACT: Not so long ago I interviewed a computer engineer in her home. Surrounded with toys and a napping baby—the interview time had been chosen carefully—she talked about how she worked as an independent contractor for a large electronics company. Connected by high-speed broadband, two telephone lines, and a cell phone, she felt fully integrated into the work, exchanging electronic files with her colleagues and having telephone conversations with customers two continents and umpteen time zones away. She told me she often worked late after the baby was in bed and during the…

Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 2013

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conclude a two-part review of past and current approach... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conclude a two-part review of past and current approaches to meeting the more “complex” needs of individuals in the UK context. It explores the dilemmas of commissioning, the development of personalisation approaches in funding or care planning mechanisms, the need to address power relations and lessons from the introduction of the role of a “lead professional” in the Care Programme Approach (CPA), concluding with the development of more systemic approaches at locality level. Design/methodology/approach – This, being the second of two papers, extends the historical narrative approach of Part 1 to the analysis of the term “complex needs” and its role in contemporary service delivery. Findings – The first responsibility of services has been to find ways to engage these more “at risk” individuals and their needs more effectively; and innovation and guidance on this is valuable. But the paper also needs to address the nature of the net itself, t...

Housing, Care and Support, 2011

PurposeThis paper is an extended review and expert commentary on a recently published study by th... more PurposeThis paper is an extended review and expert commentary on a recently published study by the Centre for Housing Policy (CHP) which discusses the complexities of research in “housing related support” in the UK context, and proposes further work. This review aims to explore the strengths and limitations of the study; and the potential wider relevance outside the UK research context.Design/methodology/approachThe review methodology is traditionally that of expert opinion. The reviewer draws upon previous evaluation studies of mental health and housing, commissioned by the UK Dept of Health, the (Dept of) Communities and Local Government, the National Institute for Mental Health in England, and the Care Services Improvement Partnership, including additional material on the Mental Health Minimum Dataset.FindingsThe CHP report reviewed raises important questions over the complexities of evidencing innovative services. Despite some omissions, it should be helpful to health local comm...

A Life in the Day, 2009

Robin Johnson continues his excellent series on housing issues, this time exploring the important... more Robin Johnson continues his excellent series on housing issues, this time exploring the important role that support workers can have in reaching out to and engaging with individuals who would ordinarily be reluctant to put themseves in the hands of conventional care or therapy services.

Journal of Public Mental Health, 2010

This paper is an account of the discussions and recommendations by the exper t advisory panel on ... more This paper is an account of the discussions and recommendations by the exper t advisory panel on potential metrics and ‘sentinel indicators’ for improved outcomes in housing and mental health, as par t of an inter-agency seminar called to advise on the development of metrics and measures for community mental health, for Fair Society, Healthy Lives: The Marmot Review (Marmot,

Housing, Care and Support, 2009

... The overall effectiveness of inter-agency liaison over vulnerable individuals could also be .... more ... The overall effectiveness of inter-agency liaison over vulnerable individuals could also be ... and data in moving towards greater autonomy for individuals in supported living would significantly ... the supply of suitable general needs housing, and of supported accommodation, for the ...

Housing, Care and Support, 2013

Purpose-This paper aims to present an overview of the current state of evidence on the effect of ... more Purpose-This paper aims to present an overview of the current state of evidence on the effect of housing circumstances, and housing-related interventions, on adult mental health and well-being. It covers the entire range of health from chronic illness to positive thriving, and both individual and community-level/public health. Design/methodology/approach-The paper is based upon a purposive review, commissioned originally for the UK Department of Health; and therefore is selective in giving priority to research relevant to public policy considerations, and to the UK context. Research with a variety of methodological foundations is considered, where robust enough by its own standards. Findings-The available evidence gives conditional support to policies accentuating empowerment at individual and community levels; early intervention; locality or place-based interventions; and integrated working practice. The complexity of methodological issues emerges as a key challenge for research in this field, and for the prospect of evidence-based national policy. Meanwhile local knowledge and interpretation of data in context may be more reliable than context-blind studies. Research limitations/implications-Where ''hard evidence'' is unavailable, reports of the lived experience of individuals and in communities remain a legitimate basis for policy and commissioning.

Housing, Care and Support, 2004

Social inclusion means ensuring that all individuals, despite any particular perceived ‘different... more Social inclusion means ensuring that all individuals, despite any particular perceived ‘differentness’ (Sayce, 2000; Harrison & Davis, 2001) or disadvantage in life, may nevertheless feel at home in the world and find a sense of belonging in their local community. But the most important place to feel at home is at home.

Housing, Care and Support, 2005

ABSTRACT The Social Exclusion Unit's report on mental health, published in the summer of ... more ABSTRACT The Social Exclusion Unit's report on mental health, published in the summer of 2004, had surprisingly little to say about housing. But behind the scenes there has been a ferment of activity, and the National Institute for Mental Health for England (NIMHE) has been given the lead role in advancing all central government efforts to create a more joined-up vision of mental health for the 21st century. NIMHE has taken the lead on implementation of the SEU's conclusions, and much more besides. A National Project Team on mental health and housing is to come together next year, with a wide-ranging brief. This article looks at some of the issues that this new body will take on, including a new focus on research on the links between poor mental health and poor housing, and on evaluation of ‘housing-based solutions’. As NIMHE itself is absorbed from April into the new Care Services Improvement Partnership, the prospects for linking housing with the community care modernisation agenda must be looking up.

Mental health today (Brighton, England)

Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 2011

SOCIAL POLICY and to encourage new practice. Either way, the recognition of the significance of r... more SOCIAL POLICY and to encourage new practice. Either way, the recognition of the significance of related-ness (Putnam, 2000; Christakis & Fowler, 2009; Norman, 2010), is central to any efforts to enhance mental health and to improve the health of the nation. This is the foundation of 'the new social psychiatry'. The first article in this series (Johnson & Haigh, 2010) described one such concept: the 'psychologically-informed environment', or 'PIE'. The PIE originally arose out of the need to recognise and to work with the levels of emotional trauma that accompany, and in many cases precede, an individual becoming homeless. It is a new approach or framework whose original aim was to recognise 'Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life; where they learn, work, play and love.' (World Health Organization, 1986

A Life in the Day, 2008

Julian Housing Support Trust Ltd (JHS) was set up in 1990 as a registered charity to provide supp... more Julian Housing Support Trust Ltd (JHS) was set up in 1990 as a registered charity to provide support throughout Norfolk to people experiencing serious and ongoing mental health problems. Julian Housing does not itself own any accommodation, but works with ...

Housing, Care and Support, 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to comment on current evolving UK policy in public health and soc... more PurposeThe aim of this paper is to comment on current evolving UK policy in public health and social housing; and especially to outline “blind spots” in conventional health research approaches that have tended to obscure the evidence and potential in collaborative working.Design/methodology/approachThe paper summarises policy developments, in the light of recent relevant research. Mental health is used as an example.FindingsPublic health policy in the UK is new and rapidly developing; but the evidence base remains scattered across different disciplines and their various disparate communication channels. Any new public health strategy focussed on health inequalities needs to recognise the role that social housing already plays in supporting concentrations of the more vulnerable. Better recognition of the everyday social and especially mental health problems that social housing staff deal with illustrates the central role of housing management as the defining factor in social housing,...

Housing, Care and Support, 2008

This article calls for better co‐operation and co‐ordination between mental health and housing su... more This article calls for better co‐operation and co‐ordination between mental health and housing support services, and greater recognition of the important role of social housing in community mental health care.

Housing, Care and Support, 2008

The new local government performance framework, in combination with the move towards greater pers... more The new local government performance framework, in combination with the move towards greater personalisation in services, creates a radically new funding environment for housing with care and support. From the Public Service Agreement (PSA) on achieving settled accommodation for individuals at risk of exclusion, through to the impact of individual budgets, the principles and mechanisms of the new joint commissioning culture create more opportunities for providers to articulate the needs of the client group served, and to assert the case for more joined-up and responsive services. This may require different skills and new styles of leadership at local level, and providers who have become adept at being competitors may need to rediscover the skills of partnership. Meanwhile, new social inclusion policy frameworks are emerging for supported accommodation, which can support moves away from institutional care for those with mental health problems.