‘We have the time to listen’: community Health Trainers, identity work and boundaries

Journal article


Williams, R., Allen-Collinson, J., Middleton, G., Henderson, H., Crust, L and Evans, A 2019. ‘We have the time to listen’: community Health Trainers, identity work and boundaries. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise & Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1646317
AuthorsWilliams, R., Allen-Collinson, J., Middleton, G., Henderson, H., Crust, L and Evans, A
Abstract

This article contributes empirical findings and sociological theoretical perspectives to discussions of the role of community lay health workers, including in improving the health of individuals and communities. We focus on the role of the Health Trainer (HT), at its inception described as one of the most innovative developments in UK Public Health policy. As lay health workers, HTs are tasked with reducing health inequalities in disadvantaged communities by supporting clients to engage in healthier lifestyles. HTs are currently sociologically under-researched, particularly in relation to occupational identity work, and the boundary work undertaken inter-occupationally with other health workers. To address this research lacuna, a qualitative study was undertaken with 25 HTs based in the Midlands region of the UK. In theorising our findings, we employ a novel combination of symbolic interactionist conceptualisation of 1) identity work, and of 2) boundary work. The article advances knowledge in the field of health and exercise by investigating and theorising how HTs construct, work at, manage, and communicate about professional/occupational boundaries, in order to provide personalised support to their clients in achieving and sustaining healthy behaviour change within the constraints of clients’ lifeworlds.

KeywordsBehaviour change; Community lay health workers ; Health trainers ; Occupational identity work ; Boundary work
Year2019
JournalQualitative Research in Sport, Exercise & Health
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis
ISSN2159-676X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1646317
Official URLhttps://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1646317
Related URLhttp://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/36495/
Publication dates
Print25 Jul 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted17 Jul 2019
Deposited27 Feb 2020
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Additional information

This output is OA compliant via another UK HEI: http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/36495/

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