Evaluation of Extended Support Services (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Extended Support Services
IRAS ID
184431
Contact name
Julian Edbrooke-Childs
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Sponsor Rep
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The research will evaluate Extended Support Services, which is an extension or renewal of existing Support Services provided in routine hours to increase appropriate out-of-hours and crisis care to young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties (e.g., out-of-hours assessment, residential service, multi-professional team, duty team, trained peer support). These new services are being implemented as part of routine service delivery.
The aim of the evaluation is to understand: under what circumstances, by what means and in what ways can Extended Support Services help meet the needs of young people in crisis and on the edge of care, improve their outcomes, enhance their experience of this care, and reduce the number of young people becoming engaged in statutory services.
To answer this question, we will use a Realistic Evaluation framework. The evaluation has been designed to maximize use of existing data and data collection procedures to minimize burden on young people, parents and staff.
The evaluation will comprise three strands.
Analysis of routine clinical data to explore change in service utilization, referrals and numbers of young people seen before and after the Extended Support Services. Activity and outcome data will also be analysed to explore how appropriately young people’s mental health needs are met by the extended services.
We will also explore historic patient experience data collected using routinely collected experience surveys, which will also be administered after the implementation of Extended Support Services –supplemented with other experience of service measures – to understand the impact of these services on young people’s and parents’ experience of care.
Qualitative data will include interviews with young people, parents and professionals involved in the extended services before and after Extended Support Services. These data will be analysed to understand in detail how experience has changed and how service users’ and providers’ needs were met. Participant observation tools or diaries may also be collected by professionals in the Extended Support Services to gain detailed understanding of the experience of these Services.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
15/ES/0178
Date of REC Opinion
6 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion