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Working together when the problem is multi-faceted: understanding inter-agency working for the benefit of people with hoarding problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2022

Sam G. French ,
Karen Lock ,
Tiago Zortea ,
Elaine Hassall ,
Victoria Bream ,
Kathryn Webb  and
Paul M. Salkovskis
Sam G. French*
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
Karen Lock
Affiliation:
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, UK
Tiago Zortea
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
Elaine Hassall
Affiliation:
Buckinghamshire Council, UK
Victoria Bream
Affiliation:
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
Kathryn Webb
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
Paul M. Salkovskis
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: sam.french@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Hoarding disorder is a surprisingly common problem which impacts on most areas of life. People who hoard typically have multiple agencies involved in their care due to the complex health and safety impact and risks associated with hoarding. ‘Treatment’ involves finding ways of supporting discarding large amounts, typically underpinned by CBT principles. We evaluated the impact and outcomes of a conference designed to boost professionals’ confidence and understanding in working with hoarding problems, both individually and with other agencies with a view to improving inter-agency service provision. Changes in professionals’ confidence and understanding were evaluated immediately before and after the conference. Conference participants’ qualitative responses related to service improvements were analysed using content analysis. People with personal experience of hoarding issues subsequently participated in a focus group where the results of the conference were presented. These data were analysed using thematic analysis. Confidence and understanding in working with hoarding problems substantially increased from pre- to post-conference. Professionals identified a range of possible improvements, most commonly working more closely and improving communication with other agencies. People with personal experience suggested improvements across three over-arching themes: developing an improved understanding of hoarding, the need for improved resources, and improved multi-agency working. A multi-agency conference increased confidence and understanding in professionals working with hoarding problems, and improvements specified by both people with personal experience and professionals provide a useful guide to service improvement. Results provide a framework in which CBT approaches should be embedded.

Key learning aims

  1. (1) To assess the effectiveness of a multi-agency hoarding conference at improving understanding and confidence in working with hoarding problems.

  2. (2) To explore professionals’ perceptions of improvements to multi-agency service provision.

  3. (3) To explore perceptions of improvements that could be made to multi-agency service provision from people with personal experience of hoarding problems.

Keywords

hoardingpractitionerpsychoeducationservice userstraining
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 15 , 2022 , e60
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

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References

Further reading

Frost, R. O., & Hartl, T. L. (1996). A cognitive-behavioral model of compulsive hoarding. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 34, 341–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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Steketee, G., & Frost, R. O. (2013). Treatment for Hoarding Disorder: Therapist Guide (2nd edn). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar

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