Learning Library

What Is Homelessness? The Full Picture

Move beyond rough sleeping to understand the many forms homelessness takes — and why it matters for everyone working in the sector.

Hidden Homelessness: Beyond Rough Sleeping

Sofa surfing, temporary accommodation, hidden homelessness — explore the forms of homelessness that are hardest to see.

Why People Become Homeless: Causes and Context

Understand the structural causes of homelessness and why individual explanations alone miss the bigger picture.

What People Experiencing Homelessness Need

Explore what research and people with lived experience tell us about what actually helps — beyond a roof overhead.

Solutions to Homelessness: The Bigger Picture

From Housing First to prevention strategies — explore the approaches that have the strongest evidence behind them.

Roles and Services in the Homelessness Sector

Get to know the landscape of homelessness services — who does what, and how different services work together.

Understanding HomelessnessDeveloping

The Homelessness Reduction Act: Your Duty to Prevent

Understand the legal duties introduced by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and what they mean in practice.

Understanding HomelessnessDeveloping

The Homelessness Workforce: Who Works Here and Why

Explore who works in the homelessness sector, what draws them to the work, and the challenges they face.

What Is Trauma?

A grounded introduction to trauma — what it is, how it shows up in the people we support, and why it matters for your practice.

ACEs: How Early Experiences Shape Adult Lives

Understand adverse childhood experiences and their lasting impact — and what this means for the people you work with.

The Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice

Explore the six principles that define trauma-informed care — and how they translate into everyday practice.

When Trauma Meets Homelessness

Explore how trauma and homelessness interact — why this matters for support relationships and how to respond.

Psychologically Informed Environments: What They Are and Why They Work

Understand what makes an environment psychologically informed — and how to create one wherever you work.

Avoiding Re-Traumatisation in Your Practice

Explore how everyday interactions can inadvertently re-traumatise — and what to do differently.

TIC in Practice: Case Studies from the Sector

Real examples of trauma-informed practice from organisations across the UK homelessness sector.

Psychologically Informed Inductions: Starting Well

Why the induction experience matters for trauma-informed practice — and how to get it right from the start.

Psychologically Informed 1:1 Meetings

How to make one-to-one meetings feel safe, purposeful and genuinely helpful for the people you support.

Trauma-Informed Practice & PIEAdvanced

Trauma, Attachment and Relationships in Support Work

Explore attachment theory and what it tells us about support relationships — including your own responses.

22 min

Trauma-Informed Practice & PIEAdvanced

Relationship-Based Practice: What It Means in Action

A deep dive into relationship-based practice — what it looks like, why it works, and the challenges it brings.

22 min

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Professional Curiosity: Asking Better Questions

Explore professional curiosity — the practice of asking more questions, looking further, and not accepting easy answers.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Active Listening: Hearing What's Said and What Isn't

Develop your listening skills to hear not just words but meaning, emotion and what's not being said.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Reflective Practice: What It Is and Why It Matters

Understand reflective practice — what it really means, why it matters, and how to build it into your working life.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsDeveloping

Reflective Models in Practice: ERA, Gibbs and Beyond

Explore practical models for structured reflection — ERA, Gibbs, Kolb and the What/So What/Now What framework.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsDeveloping

Strengths-Based Approaches: Seeing Possibility

Explore the strengths-based approach and the KcVETS model — shifting focus from what's wrong to what's possible.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsDeveloping

An Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

A practical introduction to motivational interviewing — the evidence-based approach to supporting change.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsDeveloping

Understanding the Stages of Change

Explore the Prochaska and DiClemente model of change — and what it means for how you support people.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsAdvanced

Working With Ambivalence and Resistance

Understand ambivalence and resistance as normal parts of change — and how to work with them rather than against them.

Professional Practice & Reflective SkillsFoundation

Your Professional Development: Using the Homelessness Skills Framework

Understand the National Homelessness Skills Framework and how to use it to guide your own development.

Adult Safeguarding: The Foundations

Build your understanding of adult safeguarding — what it is, why it matters, and your responsibilities under the Care Act.

Recognising Abuse, Neglect and Harm

Learn to recognise the different types of abuse, neglect and harm — and the signs that something may not be right.

Information Sharing and Confidentiality

Navigate the balance between confidentiality and the need to share information to keep people safe.

SafeguardingDeveloping

Domestic Abuse: Understanding and Responding

Understand domestic abuse — how it shows up in homelessness contexts and how to respond with confidence.

SafeguardingDeveloping

Modern Slavery and Exploitation in Homelessness Contexts

Understand the signs of modern slavery and exploitation — and your role in identifying and responding.

SafeguardingDeveloping

Professional Curiosity as a Safeguarding Tool

Explore how professional curiosity — asking questions, following up, not accepting easy answers — is central to safeguarding.

The Care Act and Wellbeing: What It Means for Your Practice

Understand the Care Act's wellbeing principle and what it means for your day-to-day practice.

Understanding Mental Health: A Starting Point

A clear and accessible introduction to mental health — what it is, why it matters, and what affects it.

Common Mental Health Experiences in Homelessness

Explore the mental health experiences that are most common among people experiencing homelessness — and why.

Crisis Services: What's Available and How They Work

Get to know the mental health crisis services available in the UK — from CRHT to Section 136 and crisis houses.

Mental Health & WellbeingDeveloping

Mental Health Crisis: What It Looks Like and How to Respond

Understand what a mental health crisis can look like — and how to respond safely and supportively.

Mental Health & WellbeingDeveloping

Supporting Someone in Emotional Distress

Practical skills for supporting someone who is struggling emotionally — drawing on motivational interviewing and active listening.

Physical Activity and Mental Wellbeing

Explore the strong evidence linking physical activity and mental wellbeing — and how to support people to move more.

Understanding Addiction: Moving Beyond Judgement

Explore what addiction really is — moving beyond moral judgements to a compassionate, evidence-informed understanding.

Harm Reduction: What It Is and Why It Matters

Understand harm reduction — its philosophy, its evidence base, and what it looks like in practice.

The Stages of Change: Meeting People Where They Are

Explore the Stages of Change model and how to apply it when supporting people in their recovery journey.

Overdose Awareness: Signs, Response and Naloxone

Understand the signs of overdose, the basic response, and the role of Naloxone in reducing drug-related deaths.

Substance Use & RecoveryDeveloping

Common Substances: What Workers Need to Know

A practical overview of common substances — their effects, risks and what workers may observe in the people they support.

Substance Use & RecoveryDeveloping

Gambling and Hidden Addictions

Explore gambling and other less visible addictions — often overlooked, but significantly impacting people's lives.

Drug Treatment Services: What's Available

Get to know the drug treatment services available through the NHS and community providers.

Substance Use & RecoveryDeveloping

Working With Ambivalence in Recovery

Explore how ambivalence shows up in recovery — and how to work alongside it with patience and skill.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsFoundation

Emergency Housing: Who Qualifies and How

Understand who qualifies for emergency housing from the council — the legal tests, duties, and what happens in practice.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsFoundation

Temporary Accommodation: The Realities

Explore what temporary accommodation really looks like — and its impact on the people placed there.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsFoundation

Housing Options: An Overview for Workers

Get to know the full range of housing options available — so you can better support people to understand their choices.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsDeveloping

The Homelessness Reduction Act: A Practical Guide

A practical guide to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 — the 56-day duty, prevention duties and how they work.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsDeveloping

The Renters' Rights Act 2025: What Changed and Why It Matters

Understand the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and the significant changes it introduced for people at risk of homelessness.

Housing & Homelessness SystemsDeveloping

Local Housing Allowance: Understanding the Hidden Barrier

Explore Local Housing Allowance — why the gap between LHA rates and actual rents creates a hidden barrier to housing.

Benefits & Financial InclusionFoundation

Universal Credit: The Basics

A clear introduction to Universal Credit — how it works, who gets it, and what affects it for people experiencing homelessness.

Benefits & Financial InclusionFoundation

PIP and Disability Benefits: Who Qualifies and How

Understand Personal Independence Payment and disability benefits — current rates, eligibility and the assessment process.

Benefits & Financial InclusionDeveloping

Financial Hardship: Debt, Crisis and Options

Explore the debt options available to people in financial hardship — from DMPs and DROs to breathing space.

Benefits & Financial InclusionDeveloping

Financial Exclusion: Barriers to Banking and Money

Understand financial exclusion — why some people are locked out of basic financial services and what can help.

Benefits & Financial InclusionDeveloping

The Financial Inclusion Strategy: Understanding the Bigger Picture

Explore the HM Treasury Financial Inclusion Strategy (2025) and what it means for people experiencing homelessness.

Equality, Diversity & InclusionFoundation

Language Matters: Words, Labels and Power

Explore how the language we use shapes how we think about the people we support — and why it matters.

Equality, Diversity & InclusionFoundation

The Equality Act 2010: What It Means in Practice

Understand the Equality Act 2010 — the nine protected characteristics and what the Act means for homelessness services.

Equality, Diversity & InclusionDeveloping

Anti-Oppressive Practice: Reflecting on Your Own Power

Explore anti-oppressive practice and reflect on your own position, power and privilege in the support relationship.

Equality, Diversity & InclusionDeveloping

Inclusion in Services: Moving from Policy to Practice

Explore what genuine inclusion looks like in homelessness services — moving beyond policy statements to real practice.

Equality, Diversity & InclusionDeveloping

Positive Action in Practice: What It Is and Why It Matters

Understand positive action — what it is, how it differs from positive discrimination, and why it matters.

Staff WellbeingFoundation

Understanding Compassion Fatigue

Explore compassion fatigue — what it is, how it develops, and how to recognise the signs in yourself and others.

Staff WellbeingFoundation

Burnout and Vicarious Trauma: Recognising the Signs

Understand burnout and vicarious trauma — how they differ, how they develop, and the early warning signs to watch for.

Secondary Traumatic Stress: What It Is and How to Manage It

Explore secondary traumatic stress — how it differs from burnout and vicarious trauma, and how to protect yourself.

Building Self-Awareness: Your Emotional Responses at Work

Develop your self-awareness around your own emotional responses — including transference and countertransference.

Self-Care Strategies That Actually Work

Move beyond bubble baths and buzzwords — explore the self-care strategies backed by evidence and practitioner experience.

Staff WellbeingFoundation

Supporting Yourself While Caring for Others

Explore what it means to care for yourself while doing emotionally demanding work — practical, honest guidance.

Reflective Practice as a Wellbeing Tool

Explore how regular reflective practice supports your wellbeing — not just your professional development.

Staff WellbeingAdvanced

The Emotional Demands of the Role: Transference and Countertransference

A deep exploration of transference and countertransference — the emotional undercurrents in support relationships.