Recipes for PIE: An Exploration of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) in Homelessness Services

Aims: Psychologically informed environments (PIE) is a broad and flexible framework developed in UK homelessness services. PIE integrates psychologically informed ideas and approaches into service design to consider the psychological and emotional needs of service-users and staff. This study aimed to explore how psychological professionals interpret and implement PIE and what this looks like in practice.

Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 practitioner psychologists who use a PIE approach in homelessness services or organisations. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore how PIE is applied in practice.

Results: Five themes were identified through the thematic analysis: (1) ‘PIE is a journey, not a destination’ which describes how practitioner psychologists deciphered and implemented PIE over time. (2) ‘Building trusting relationships’ which describes the importance and process of building trust with people experiencing homelessness and with colleagues. (3) ‘Systemic barriers to PIE’ which describes systemic, structural, and societal barriers to the implementation of PIE. (4) ‘Reluctance from staff teams’ which describes some staff teams’ discomfort with reflective practice sessions and the judgemental attitudes held towards service-users, and (5) ‘The enormity of PIE’ which describes PIE as a vast framework which can be utilised by professionals and services irrespective of formal psychological training and is challenging for a single staff member to hold and manage in their day-to-day workload.

Conclusions: This research explored the accounts of practitioner psychologists using PIE in homelessness services. The time required to decipher and implement PIE should be acknowledged by senior leaders, commissioners, and psychological professionals. Building trusting relationships with both service-users and other staff is a cornerstone of PIE and should be emphasised. Consideration should be given to policies and initiatives to reduce systemic limitations, engage staff teams, and share the responsibility of implementing PIE.