Understanding Staff Experiences and Support Needs Relating to the Deaths of People Experiencing Homelessness

Purpose Staff supporting people who are homeless and facing severe and multiple disadvantage are frequently exposed to deaths of those they support yet anecdotally receive limited preparation or training to cope with this. Evidence suggests those who receive training and are competent to cope with death are less likely to experience burnout. Staff well‐being is a core concern within psychologically‐ and trauma‐informed support. Little attention has been paid to the impact of dealing with death at work, or associated support needs. This study aimed to understand staff experiences of support, and unmet support needs around dealing with death, to inform provision for staff. Design This study employed a cross‐sectional, mixed methods survey design. Data were collected online from 243 staff working in an organisation that provides a range of support services to those facing severe and multiple disadvantage. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Findings Staff experiences of support and unmet needs were grouped into four categories: emotional support; practical support; training provision and needs and organisational culture. Key findings include a need for trauma‐informed training, together with a shift in the organisational culture around responses to death. Clinical implications are proposed to inform future training provision and support.