The HOPES study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Helping older people to engage effectively with community social care: developing a theory of change for specialist mental health support worker activities.
IRAS ID
270545
Contact name
Mark Wilberforce
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Many older people who need social care support at home (e.g. help with meals or personal care) have dementia, depression, anxiety and/or other mental health difficulties. For some, these problems mean that they cannot easily engage with social care. For example, they may decline the care on offer, they may avoid the people who try to give the care, or they may in other ways prevent social care being delivered. This can lead to the breakdown of social care arrangements without which leaves people at severe risk of self-neglect, growing health problems and admission to hospital. These difficulties sometimes trigger a referral to community mental health teams. An earlier study suggested that specialist support workers in these teams are most valuable in helping people to engage with their social care. However, it is unclear what is it about their work this is most helpful, how do these activities work, and what helps or hinders their success?\n\nThis study has four research activities: \n1. In-depth qualitative interviews with people living with mental health needs and/or their carers (n=6-8); \n2. In-depth interviews with home care providers (n=4-6)\n3. In-depth interviews with support workers (n=22-24 interviews)\n4. Focus groups with CMHT professionals (n=2 focus groups; 7-9 participants in each)\n\nThe research activities will unpick the work of support workers to understand the ways in which their interventions work, and how they could be improved.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0418
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion