TY - JOUR
AU - Lloyd, Nigel
AU - Wills, Wendy
AU - Freethy, Imogen
AU - Fakoya, Olujoke
AU - Bontoft, Charis
AU - Bartington, Suzanne
AU - Breslin, Gavin
AU - Howlett, Neil
AU - Jones, Julia
AU - Newby, Katie
AU - Smeeton, Nigel
AU - Wellings, Amander
AU - Wellsted, David
AU - Brown, Katherine
AU - Garcia Iglesias, Jaime
PY - 2025
DA - December
TI - Home working during the COVID-19 pandemic: The experience of drug and alcohol support workers
JO - Journal of Public Health Research
EP - 13
VL - 14
IS - 4
DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036251381226
AB - Background: Drug and alcohol support workers play a vital role in addressing the growing burden of substance-related harm and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic led to an abrupt and significant shift towards home working for many in this workforce. This study explores these workers’ home working experiences, addressing a research gap and providing valuable insights for staff, organisations delivering public health services, and service users. Design and methods: This qualitative study explores home working experiences of 30 drug and alcohol support workers in northern England during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection included innovative digital methods: (1) digital timelines (n = 16); (2) in-depth interviews (n = 17); (3) five focus groups (n = 12). Timeline text was treated as qualitative text data. Interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Data were subject to Framework Analysis. Results: Seven themes were identified: (1) Difficulty balancing and separating work and home life; (2) Importance of setup, infrastructure and conducive work environment; (3) The move to remote/home working – a process; (4) Convenience and efficiency benefits; (5) Loss of the social – reductions in social connectedness and feelings of isolation; (6) The importance of the ‘office’ for connection, communication, socialising, and information sharing; (7) Managing remotely – the development and implementation of strategies and ways of coping. Conclusions: While home working offers some benefits for substance use support workers, providers, and service users, it also introduces significant challenges. Understanding these is critical for service optimisation. A hybrid (in-person/remote) delivery model, combining home and co-located, office-based working may be optimal.
UR - https://publichealthscotland.scot/id/221506
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KW - Alcohol, tobacco and drugs
ER