Do you have insights about the power of relationships in mental health recovery or a piece of groundbreaking research in relational practice to share? Consider submitting your work to the Elly Jansen Award!     Advances in mental health treatment and recovery are driven by people and organisations implementing innovative strategies that improve the outcomes for those experiencing mental distress.     A notable pioneer in this field is Elly Jansen OBE, who opened her first therapeutic community in Richmond in 1959 for adults with mental health challenges. Over the next two decades, she established more than 100 therapeutic communities worldwide, advocating for their transformative power in recovery. Although now retired, Elly's commitment to advancing therapeutic practices continues to inspire many in the field.     The Elly Jansen Award , established by Community Housing and Therapy and funded by Elly, aims to encourage new research and recognise inspiring writing that explores creative approaches to therapeutic communities and relational practice. The Award also provides a valuable platform for voices in the field, including new writers and those from international communities, to share their insights and experiences.     Contribute your experience and insight   If you have a story or insights to share about the theories and practices of therapeutic communities or related fields like Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs) and Enabling Environments (EEs), consider submitting your article!     By sharing your thoughts, experiences, and research, you can inspire others and contribute to the celebration of innovative therapeutic practices. We are also offering a first prize of £1,000 and publication in the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, and two runner-up prizes of £500 each.     The joy of sharing an innovative project    Previous winners, Elisa Mingarelli and Patrizia Erlicher from Fondazione Rosa dei Venti onlus , share how meaningful the Elly Jansen Award has been for their work.    "Winning the Elly Jansen Award not only comes with a valuable cash prize but also offers many emotional and practical benefits: a feeling of being a part of a larger community, the TCTC community, where we can share ideas and practical ways to manage the challenging work of a therapeutic community; the possibility to opening up dialogue between different countries and cultures looking at the same themes and sharing practices; the joy of sharing an innovative project!   Elly Jansen's commitment to helping people is an example of the enduring strength that is necessary to continue. The process of envisioning a new project, bringing it to life, reflecting on it, and sharing experiences with colleagues from various countries is another significant benefit of receiving this prize. We are grateful for this possibility and experience that the Award brought to our staff and the wider community."      The entry deadline is midnight UK Time on Sunday, June 15, 2025. You can find out more about entering the awards here .     Dr Peter Cockersell & Elisa Mingarelli What makes a good article?      An article is a piece of writing with an introduction, a middle section, and a conclusion, and submissions can range from 4,000 to 7,000 words. There are different types of articles you can submit, including;   Academic Paper: Share original research or findings that contribute to the knowledge base in mental health.   Case Study: Share real or hypothetical case studies from organisations which can be used for teaching  Personal experience / Commentary / Response - Offer a personal viewpoint or experience, or response to current practices or theories in the field  Literature review. Review of literature in a field, critiquing or annotating it.  A technical paper which evaluates technical products or processes relevant to therapeutic settings.  Conceptual paper, which discusses ideas, usually based on theories or comparisons of others’ work.  A general overview or historical look at a concept or process.  You can find out more about entering the awards here .

An interview with Dr Peter Cockersell on Psychologically Informed Environments. In a timely and insightful interview with the Brazilian mental health journal Pluralidades em Saúde Mental , Dr Peter Cockersell, our CEO and one of the originators of the Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) approach, explored the history and impact of PIEs and Trauma Informed Care (TIC) on the outcomes of people experiencing mental health challenges and social exclusion, and the barriers to their implementation. What are Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs)?   PIEs were first developed to support staff in the homelessness sector without clinical backgrounds to understand and address trauma. PIEs (like those offered through our residential communities ) are supportive spaces for staff and service users that integrate trauma-informed practices into care, promoting understanding, positive relationships, and personal growth and recovery. Mental distress often stems from repeated trauma, damaged attachment relationships, and environmental factors such as deprivation and inequality, which disproportionately affect and marginalise vulnerable people. PIEs offer a framework to provide immediate support for these intersecting needs and pave the way for sustainable, long-term solutions. “With the right support, right care...having someone who will listen and form an honest, caring relationship with them, then people will go on to recover” Yet, despite their benefits, there are numerous challenges to implementing PIE and trauma-informed care frameworks in mental health services. These include short-term funding, public sector budget cuts, and lack of support, training and poor pay for frontline staff. There can also be the challenge of organisational resistance to change and the reality that building trust and authentic relationships, especially with people who are traumatised and marginalised takes time, which can be challenging given the pressures faced by many frontline health or support staff. In the interview, Peter offers guidance to practitioners looking to adopt trauma-informed or psychologically informed approaches in their work. He also emphasises the need to advocate for systemic changes that prioritise compassionate care and enhance health services, including policies that support sustainable funding models, improved conditions for staff, and better training in trauma-informed practices. Read the full interview here Dr Peter Cockersell presenting at the Pathways from Homelessness Conference 2024 About Dr Peter Cockersell Peter has had a long career as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, Trainer, and Organisational Consultant in Psychologically Informed Environments, specialising in psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions with people experiencing homelessness or other forms of social exclusion, histories of compound trauma, and ‘complex needs’.  Before joining CHT in 2018, he worked for St Mungo’s for over 20 years, most recently as Director of Health & Recovery. Peter was also one of the co-authors of the DCLG-sponsored national guidance on Psychologically Informed Environments, published in 2011, and is the author of various articles, chapters and two edited books.

We are delighted to announce that CHT is now an accredited ASYE provider, which means we can offer employment and development opportunities for Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs). Developed by Skills for Care , the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme helps develop the skills, knowledge and confidence of newly qualified social workers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. At CHT, we'll offer a 12-month, employment-based support and assessment programme for NQSWs as they transition from student social workers. The programme will include regular supervision, reviews, and assessments that will help them improve their skills and become better practitioners. Anthony Jones, our Head of Social work, said, "The ASYE is fantastic for Newly Qualified Social Workers and for CHT. Now we get to develop Social Workers as practitioners whilst developing the role within the organisation; the timing could not be better. It’s a real achievement for a non-statutory organisation like us to be able to offer and participate in a national scheme like this”. Find out more about working at CHT or view our current vacancies

At CHT, relationships are at the heart of treatment, so we are delighted to support Time to Talk Day, the nation's biggest mental health conversation. Feeling heard and understood is so important, particularly for our residents experiencing severe or long-term mental distress, who often arrive at our communities having limited autonomy in their care. Together, we co-create their Recovery Plans, ensuring their voices are heard, boundaries are respected, and their needs are met. In this way we help empower residents to actively participate in their recovery and create a culture of trust and community.

In December, Vikki H, our Lived Experience Coordinator, facilitated our first Experts by Experience training, an Introduction to Trauma-Informed Practice for four residents. This half-day training covered models for understanding and working with trauma and the impact of working with people who have experienced trauma on ourselves as Experts by Experience.   Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants commenting on how collaborative and empowering the training was.   Our next workshops will be 'Train the Trainer' and Peer Support training scheduled for later in 2025. If you have any questions about our Experts by Experience Programme, please email Vikki .