Understanding the culture of support accommodation services: staff views

This paper explores staff perceptions around observed dimensions of support and aims to develop our understanding of staff culture within supported accommodation services. It is part of a larger study and builds on our findings from participant observa-tions where services differed on dimensions of engagement, em-powerment, warmth and rapport.Method: Individual interviews were carried out with frontline staff and practice leaders from two services, following 12 months of participant observation. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.Results: Major themes included responses to new ideas, work-ing together and leadership styles. For some, creativity and new ideas were welcomed, even from new staff. For others there was initial resistance, which sometimes gave way to acceptance over time. Some staff acknowledged the importance of shar-ing knowledge, experience and responsibility in approaches to problem solving. Finally, some staff were given more direct guid-ance around practice, whereas others were left to find their own way. Relationships between practice and reported views will be explored.Conclusions: This research furthers our understanding of key di-mensions of culture in supported accommodation services and how these may impact on outcomes.