Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline Practices
Optimizing the performance of frontline workers in homelessness services (FWHSs) is vital for delivering effective support to individuals experiencing homelessness while prioritizing worker wellness. This paper builds on a previous study applying Orlick's "Wheel of Excellence" mental...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Western Libraries, The University of Western Ontario
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | International Journal on Homelessness |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/ijoh/article/view/16655 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850282787341336576 |
|---|---|
| author | Judy McDonald Katherine Hale Travis Kirkwood |
| author_facet | Judy McDonald Katherine Hale Travis Kirkwood |
| author_sort | Judy McDonald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Optimizing the performance of frontline workers in homelessness services (FWHSs) is vital for delivering effective support to individuals experiencing homelessness while prioritizing worker wellness. This paper builds on a previous study applying Orlick's "Wheel of Excellence" mental success elements, originally based on research with Olympic athletes, to social services. It assessed how high-performing FWHSs used these elements, providing practical insights for tailored mental-readiness training in social service facilities. The success elements—commitment, self-belief, positive imagery, mental preparation, full focus, distraction control, and constructive evaluation—were evident in FWHSs when successfully navigating challenging situations. This study provides further analysis of the elements contributing to FWHS’s mental readiness, including quotations from “excellent” FWHSs to highlight their common best practices. It defines excellence in frontline homelessness services, illustrates the use of the seven success elements, and identifies performance blocks and coping strategies from a frontline perspective. Performance blocks include general stressors and mistakes by trainees. The accompanying motivational quotes from high performers are akin to storytelling, elevating understanding and facilitating learning. Recommendations advocate tailoring existing tools, creating online learning opportunities, and implementing an Indigenous-inspired Sharing Circle for evidence-based practice discussions in homelessness services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-41598e3c4c3c4e17a3ae9aff6fec0709 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2564-310X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Western Libraries, The University of Western Ontario |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal on Homelessness |
| spelling | doaj-art-41598e3c4c3c4e17a3ae9aff6fec07092025-08-20T01:47:54ZengWestern Libraries, The University of Western OntarioInternational Journal on Homelessness2564-310X2024-10-014313915710.5206/ijoh.2023.3.1665510909Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline PracticesJudy McDonald0Katherine Hale1Travis Kirkwood2University of OttawaCity of OttawaUniversity of OttawaOptimizing the performance of frontline workers in homelessness services (FWHSs) is vital for delivering effective support to individuals experiencing homelessness while prioritizing worker wellness. This paper builds on a previous study applying Orlick's "Wheel of Excellence" mental success elements, originally based on research with Olympic athletes, to social services. It assessed how high-performing FWHSs used these elements, providing practical insights for tailored mental-readiness training in social service facilities. The success elements—commitment, self-belief, positive imagery, mental preparation, full focus, distraction control, and constructive evaluation—were evident in FWHSs when successfully navigating challenging situations. This study provides further analysis of the elements contributing to FWHS’s mental readiness, including quotations from “excellent” FWHSs to highlight their common best practices. It defines excellence in frontline homelessness services, illustrates the use of the seven success elements, and identifies performance blocks and coping strategies from a frontline perspective. Performance blocks include general stressors and mistakes by trainees. The accompanying motivational quotes from high performers are akin to storytelling, elevating understanding and facilitating learning. Recommendations advocate tailoring existing tools, creating online learning opportunities, and implementing an Indigenous-inspired Sharing Circle for evidence-based practice discussions in homelessness services.https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/ijoh/article/view/16655homelessnessfrontline workermental readinessresiliencyindigenous sharing circleexcellence |
| spellingShingle | Judy McDonald Katherine Hale Travis Kirkwood Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline Practices International Journal on Homelessness homelessness frontline worker mental readiness resiliency indigenous sharing circle excellence |
| title | Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline Practices |
| title_full | Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline Practices |
| title_fullStr | Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline Practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline Practices |
| title_short | Excellence in Homelessness Services: Evidence-Based Frontline Practices |
| title_sort | excellence in homelessness services evidence based frontline practices |
| topic | homelessness frontline worker mental readiness resiliency indigenous sharing circle excellence |
| url | https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/ijoh/article/view/16655 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT judymcdonald excellenceinhomelessnessservicesevidencebasedfrontlinepractices AT katherinehale excellenceinhomelessnessservicesevidencebasedfrontlinepractices AT traviskirkwood excellenceinhomelessnessservicesevidencebasedfrontlinepractices |