Reflective practice in homelessness services

Who is this document for?

Frontline staff and managers in homelessness services.

Why is it relevant?

Frontline workers in the homelessness sector are often exposed to challenging situations so embedding reflective practice into organisations is essential to enable individuals to step back from their work and make sense of their experiences and responses in the workplace.

What are the key takeaways?

• Reflective practice describes an individual or team taking time to think about their role, including what is going well, what is difficult, how they are feeling, and the impact of their actions.
• There are many benefits to reflective practice including reduced levels of staff burnout, increased positive outcomes and a more collaborative workplace culture.
• Staff can choose to reflect individually or within Reflective Practice Groups, with an internal or external facilitator.
• There are a range of different approaches to offering Reflective Practice Groups, and organisations should think carefully about what style suits the needs of their service and staff.