Together Network – Relational Working Executive Summary

The concept of relational working and its potential role in shaping national social policy has been the focus of much recent attention and academic study. The term relational working can and has been used to describe a range of practices, but broadly encompasses the ways in which agencies and practitioners approach working with individuals, and also with each other, to deliver services that enable people to build new relationships and to flourish in those relationships.

This paper is based on a report on relational approaches to addressing homelessness. Commissioned by Church Urban Fund (CUF), the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York undertook an evidence review to explore: what it means to take a relational approach to addressing homelessness; the benefits and challenges of adopting a relational approach to address homelessness; and the potential distinctive contribution of a faith-based approach to relational working. Here we present a summary of their findings.

This research, and the wider Positive Pathways programme, has been generously funded by the Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation.