Frontline Worker Wellbeing Research Project

The Frontline Network exists to provide support to Frontline Workers across the UK.

Each year, through our Annual Survey, we hear:

hundreds of Frontline Workers describe their commitment to supporting people who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless,
how rewarding you find using your knowledge and skills to tackle the ongoing homelessness crisis,
and how many and varied the challenges are.

However, whilst there is no doubt about frontline worker’s commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness, last year, the majority (58%) of frontline staff shared that they felt that their role had a negative impact on their wellbeing.

This is of serious concern and is an issue we have seen increase year on year in our consultations. Maintaining staff wellbeing is inherently important to any employer, but funding restraints in the homelessness and public sector mean that measures cannot always be in place to provide the staff support needed. Poor staff wellbeing also impacts the people who are receiving support, something that Frontline Workers know only too well.

“The stress of being able to help clients is ongoing and will just lead to burnout as the housing crisis worsens”.

Frontline worker, London

If staff wellbeing is not supported, more frontline workers will leave the homelessness sector, and this will lead to less effective support services for those experiencing homelessness at a time when there is more need than ever for this support.

“More investment into the staff here would mean less churn which would equal a more stable and productive service. Then we could actually look at improving our offer to service users and doing more rather than constantly keeping our head just above water”.

Frontline worker, Tayside Central and Fife

Help us gain a better understanding of wellbeing needs

We want to do more to support frontline worker wellbeing, so are undertaking further research to building a better understanding of wellbeing needs. A research pilot project is being delivered by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity in collaboration with the Centre for Homelessness Impact, What Works Centre for Wellbeing and the London School of Economics.

If you are interested in participating, please let us know by signing up and we'll be in touch soon with more details:

SIGN UP HERE

Available support

From St Martin's Charity: The Frontline Network supports staff across the UK who work on the frontline with people experiencing homelessness. We work with your ideas and expertise, finding ways to help you and your work. We offer funding, community and resources, including providing funds for frontline staff to access training, hosting national and local events to share best practice and conducting research with frontline workers to learn from their insight.
From your employer: If you are struggling to manage your wellbeing or feel you are at risk of “burnout”, then speak to your manager (or to your Employee Assistance Programme if you have one).

Frontline Worker Wellbeing Research Project