Abstract
Background
This study explores ‘home working’ experiences of drug and alcohol support workers required to work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers insights into how home working impacted the lives and working practices of staff, highlighting implications for organisations delivering public health services, public health staff, and those in receipt of services.
Design and methods
This qualitative study explores home working experiences of 30 individuals delivering drug and alcohol services in northern England during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using: 1) digital timelines (n=16); 2) in-depth interviews (n=17); 3) five focus groups (n=12). Timeline text was treated as qualitative text-based data. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed prior to coding. 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
This study suggests that home working presents benefits and challenges for substance use support workers, providers, and service users; understanding these is likely to help optimise service delivery. Findings support the position that a mix of home and co-located, office-based working, within a hybrid (in-person/remote) delivery model may be optimal.
This study explores ‘home working’ experiences of drug and alcohol support workers required to work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers insights into how home working impacted the lives and working practices of staff, highlighting implications for organisations delivering public health services, public health staff, and those in receipt of services.
Design and methods
This qualitative study explores home working experiences of 30 individuals delivering drug and alcohol services in northern England during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using: 1) digital timelines (n=16); 2) in-depth interviews (n=17); 3) five focus groups (n=12). Timeline text was treated as qualitative text-based data. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed prior to coding. 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
This study suggests that home working presents benefits and challenges for substance use support workers, providers, and service users; understanding these is likely to help optimise service delivery. Findings support the position that a mix of home and co-located, office-based working, within a hybrid (in-person/remote) delivery model may be optimal.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Public Health Research |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 5 Sept 2025 |
Keywords
- home working
- work from home
- COVID-19 pandemic
- support services
- substance use
- drug use
- alcohol dependence