TY - JOUR
AU - P. A. S. Pierce
AU - N. Svirydzenka
AU - H. Adil
AU - S. Allaham
AU - M. Ankers
AU - Y. K. Parry
AU - M. Heys
AU - M. Ucci
AU - M. Lakhanpaul
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVES: This research aims to explore the factors that hinder professionals in delivering integrated care for children under 5 in temporary accommodation (TA) and understand their experiences of collaboration during the pandemic to inform recommendations. DESIGN: Semistructured qualitative interviews. SETTING: England, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 45 professionals working across health, housing, education and non-profit sectors in England. Purposive and snowball sampling was employed to recruit a representation of key professionals across England. Those not eligible to take part in the study included people who did not work with families and/or children in TA settings. OUTCOME MEASURES: To explore cross-sector learnings that are applicable to improving integrated care and to tailor recommendations to the needs of families and children under 5 experiencing homelessness in the UK today. RESULTS: This study highlights the complex, multilevel barriers that professionals face when delivering integrated care to children under 5 in TA. Findings are organised using a framework that distinguishes between practice-level, organisational and systemic challenges. From siloed working practices and limited training to staffing shortages and restrictive data-sharing policies, these challenges collectively hinder service continuity and collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: Although this project was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges identified reflect deeper, long-standing issues in service delivery. As services continue to recover and prepare for future crises, these insights remain highly relevant and can inform more resilient, integrated recovery plans to support children in TA beyond the pandemic context. Addressing these barriers, through improved collaboration, training and data-sharing, is key to strengthening care for this vulnerable population.
AD - Medical School, University College London Faculty of Medical Sciences, London, UK.; Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Leicester, UK.; Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL GOS ICH, London, UK.; Flinders University College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.; School of Nursing & Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.; Specialist Children's and Young People's Services, East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.; Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, London, UK.; Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL GOS ICH, London, UK m.lakhanpaul@ucl.ac.uk.; Community Paediatrics, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
AN - 41605577
BT - BMJ Open
C5 - Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 1
DA - Jan 28
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106318
DP - NLM
ET - 20260128
IS - 1
JF - BMJ Open
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVES: This research aims to explore the factors that hinder professionals in delivering integrated care for children under 5 in temporary accommodation (TA) and understand their experiences of collaboration during the pandemic to inform recommendations. DESIGN: Semistructured qualitative interviews. SETTING: England, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 45 professionals working across health, housing, education and non-profit sectors in England. Purposive and snowball sampling was employed to recruit a representation of key professionals across England. Those not eligible to take part in the study included people who did not work with families and/or children in TA settings. OUTCOME MEASURES: To explore cross-sector learnings that are applicable to improving integrated care and to tailor recommendations to the needs of families and children under 5 experiencing homelessness in the UK today. RESULTS: This study highlights the complex, multilevel barriers that professionals face when delivering integrated care to children under 5 in TA. Findings are organised using a framework that distinguishes between practice-level, organisational and systemic challenges. From siloed working practices and limited training to staffing shortages and restrictive data-sharing policies, these challenges collectively hinder service continuity and collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: Although this project was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges identified reflect deeper, long-standing issues in service delivery. As services continue to recover and prepare for future crises, these insights remain highly relevant and can inform more resilient, integrated recovery plans to support children in TA beyond the pandemic context. Addressing these barriers, through improved collaboration, training and data-sharing, is key to strengthening care for this vulnerable population.
PY - 2026
SN - 2044-6055
SP - e106318
ST - Exploring barriers to integrated care for children under 5 living in temporary accommodation: a qualitative study of professionals' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in England
T1 - Exploring barriers to integrated care for children under 5 living in temporary accommodation: a qualitative study of professionals' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in England
T2 - BMJ Open
TI - Exploring barriers to integrated care for children under 5 living in temporary accommodation: a qualitative study of professionals' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in England
U1 - Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106318
VL - 16
VO - 2044-6055
Y1 - 2026
ER -