ONLINE LEARNING
Responding to Hoarding Behaviours in Housing and Community Settings
This practitioner-focused course provides a structured framework for assessment, intervention and sustainable change using the HIIM™ model incorporating the DESIRE method as an operational pathway.
For those who encounter severe clutter and hoarding-related situations in their professional role and want to develop a deeper understanding of risk assessment, proportionate and integrated intervention, and how to apply behaviour change science in practice.
Testimonials
“This course was a real eye-opener.”
“This is the first course I've come across that feels like it was designed specifically for the role I'm doing.
As a Tenant Wellbeing & Safety Officer in a brand-new role within the council, we're very much building the plane while flying it, so having training that's directly relevant has been a huge help.”
“This course has given me some really solid building blocks to start from and has definitely increased my confidence when it comes to working with tenants, assessing risks and having what can sometimes be difficult conversations. I know a lot of the real learning will come from practical experience, but this course has given me a strong foundation to build on.”
“The course gave me a much better understanding of hoarding behaviours and helped me look beyond the obvious clutter to understand what might be happening for the person.
I particularly liked that it focused on understanding behaviour rather than just "clearing stuff out." It felt realistic, practical and grounded in the challenges we actually face.”
“I've sat through plenty of training over the years and, if I'm being honest, not all of it has managed to hold my attention. This course had the opposite effect - I found myself genuinely interested all the way through and wanting to get to the next module.”
“I have ADHD, so I naturally tend to look at things from a slightly different angle, and that's one of the reasons this role suits me down to the ground.
The course complemented that really well by encouraging curiosity, empathy and creative thinking rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.”
“This is one of the most useful and relevant courses I've completed in my career.
I finished the course feeling better equipped for my role and with plenty of practical ideas to take forward into my day-to-day work.”
Professionals working in housing and community services regularly encounter situations involving severe clutter and hoarding behaviour.
These situations can create significant challenges involving risk management, tenancy sustainability, safeguarding and community safety.
Yet many practitioners feel they lack a clear framework for assessing these situations and responding proportionately.
This course provides a structured approach to understanding hoarding behaviour and implementing effective, ethical interventions in housing and community settings.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Many hoarding courses focus at the level of awareness or understanding. This course takes a different approach. The aim is not simply to increase awareness, but to help practitioners respond more confidently, proportionately and effectively in complex hoarding situations. This course integrates:
Behavioural science
Differential assessment
Environmental assessment
Ethical decision-making
Structured intervention frameworks
Hoarding situations can be challenging. This course recognises that hoarding disorder is complex - working with deeply embedded behaviours, influenced by a range of emotional, environmental and social factors.
The aim is to provide practitioners with a structured framework for assessing and responding proportionately, so that interventions are more thoughtful, ethical and sustainable. This course will help you develop the knowledge and tools to do exactly that.
Reflections from learners
“I hope to be able to have better conversations with my patients with respect to how to manage their possessions. I also want to help STOP all deep cleans.”
“I now have a better understanding and a much stronger basis for adopting a harm reduction approach.”
“I will ensure to include service users in all decisions I make relating to them and I will work in partnership to assist them.”
Beyond Awareness
Who This Course Is For?
This course is designed for professionals who encounter hoarding-related situations in their work, including:
Housing and tenancy sustainment
Environmental health
Health and social care
Social work
Fire and rescue services
Support services
Specialist practitioners
If your role involves assessing risk, supporting tenants or coordinating responses to clutter and hoarding situations, this course will provide a structured framework to support your work.
Does The Course Provide a Structured Framework for Practice?
This course goes beyond awareness training.
You will learn how to apply the:
Hoarding Integrated Intervention Model™ (HIIM)
an integrated framework that combines behavioural understanding, environmental assessment and ethical intervention.
DESIRE™ method - operational pathway
a structured process that guides practitioners from assessment through to sustainable change.
These frameworks provide a staged structure for navigating complex hoarding situations.
What Makes This Course Different?
This course was developed Linda Fay, founder of hoarding academy and behaviour change scientist. Linda is the author of A Pragmatic Approach to Chronic Disorganisation and Hoarding – using the DESIRE Method.
Drawing on almost fifteen years’ of frontline practice working with complex hoarding situations across housing, social care and community services, this course translates practical experience and behavioural science into a structured framework for practitioners.
