A participatory evaluation of legal support in the context of health-focused peer advocacy with people who are homeless in London, UK

TY - JOUR

T1 - A participatory evaluation of legal support in the context of health-focused peer advocacy with people who are homeless in London, UK

AU - Guise, Andy

AU - Burrows, Martin

AU - Marshall, Adam

N1 - Funding Information: The evaluation and service evaluation were funded by the Legal Education Foundation. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Health and Social Care in the Community published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2022/11/7

Y1 - 2022/11/7

N2 - Legal problems can be cause and consequence of ill-health and homelessness, necessitating efforts to integrate responses to these challenges. How to respond to legal issues within the context of health services for people who are homeless is though unclear. Groundswell piloted providing legal support to peer advocates (who have current or past experience of homelessness) and clients currently homeless in addition to their health-focused work. A participatory action-research design evaluated the emerging programme. Groundswell staff, both researchers and those involved in service delivery, co-led the research alongside an external researcher. Qualitative methods were used to understand the experiences of legal support. We interviewed peer advocates and volunteers (n = 8), Groundswell clients (n = 3) and sector stakeholders (n = 3). Interviews were linked to regular reflective recorded meetings (n = 7) where Groundswell staff and researchers discussed the programme and the evaluation. Data were analysed thematically. The findings focus on three themes. First, peer advocates' and clients' legal needs involve an experience of being overwhelmed by system complexity. Second, the legal support to peer advocates aided in brokering and signposting to other legal support, in the context of a supportive organisational culture. Third, support to clients can be effective, although the complexity of legal need undermines potential for sustainable responses. In conclusion, legal support for peer advocates should be developed by Groundswell and considered by other similar agencies. Legal support to people who are currently street homeless requires significant resources and so health-focused third-sector organisations maybe unable to offer effective support. Other modes of integration should be pursued. Findings also have implications for how the third sector relates to the government agencies implicated in the legal challenges facing people who are homeless.

AB - Legal problems can be cause and consequence of ill-health and homelessness, necessitating efforts to integrate responses to these challenges. How to respond to legal issues within the context of health services for people who are homeless is though unclear. Groundswell piloted providing legal support to peer advocates (who have current or past experience of homelessness) and clients currently homeless in addition to their health-focused work. A participatory action-research design evaluated the emerging programme. Groundswell staff, both researchers and those involved in service delivery, co-led the research alongside an external researcher. Qualitative methods were used to understand the experiences of legal support. We interviewed peer advocates and volunteers (n = 8), Groundswell clients (n = 3) and sector stakeholders (n = 3). Interviews were linked to regular reflective recorded meetings (n = 7) where Groundswell staff and researchers discussed the programme and the evaluation. Data were analysed thematically. The findings focus on three themes. First, peer advocates' and clients' legal needs involve an experience of being overwhelmed by system complexity. Second, the legal support to peer advocates aided in brokering and signposting to other legal support, in the context of a supportive organisational culture. Third, support to clients can be effective, although the complexity of legal need undermines potential for sustainable responses. In conclusion, legal support for peer advocates should be developed by Groundswell and considered by other similar agencies. Legal support to people who are currently street homeless requires significant resources and so health-focused third-sector organisations maybe unable to offer effective support. Other modes of integration should be pursued. Findings also have implications for how the third sector relates to the government agencies implicated in the legal challenges facing people who are homeless.

KW - action research

KW - homelessness

KW - law

KW - participative research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143899022&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/hsc.14111

DO - 10.1111/hsc.14111

M3 - Article

C2 - 36471491

AN - SCOPUS:85143899022

SN - 0966-0410

VL - 30

SP - e6622-e6630

JO - Health and Social Care in the Community

JF - Health and Social Care in the Community

IS - 6

ER -