Developing an Approach to Working with Hoarding: Space for Social Work

Abstract

Hoarding can impact on people’s activities of daily living, pose a significant health risk and put people at risk of eviction and mental health issues. There is growing awareness of how hoarding affects people. However, there remains little clarity about how local authorities and other agencies can collaborate to address the problems that hoarding can cause, and with whom the primary responsibility lies. Although social workers may frequently come into contact with hoarding, there is little evidence of the impact social work practice can have with people who hoard. This paper focuses on the work taking place with hoarding in the Adult Community Social Work team of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF). Collaboration with other agencies, a commitment to supporting people who hoard and some intensive work with service users have been central to the work in LBHF so far. This paper discusses the key role that social workers have to play in supporting people who hoard, with a focus on the importance of relationship-building with service users. It argues that social workers are well placed to support people affected by this condition.