Investigating How Dedicated Youth Worker Services for Young People with Physical and/or Mental Health Conditions are Organised, Provided and Experienced

BACKGROUND

Around a quarter of young people (YP) aged 11–25 have a long-term physical or mental health condition (LTC) & the number of YP with mental health problems has increased significantly. These YP experience poorer psycho-social & educational outcomes than their healthy peers & are at increased risk of engaging in risky behaviours. The years 11-25 are recognised as a time of sub-optimal self-management, service disengagement & deteriorating health outcomes.

Services struggle to provide the support that YP want & need at this stage of their lives. YP experience them as overly clinical & do not feel involved in decision-making. Many healthcare professionals feel unprepared to support & communicate with YP.

In response to this problem, youth workers (YW) are being introduced into healthcare settings to improve the support of YP with LTCs. However, there is a lack of evidence to support this introduction & little is known about these targeted YW services. This study aims to fill this evidence gap & inform service commissioning, organisation & delivery

AIMS

The overall study aim is to explore how YW services for YP with LTCs aged 11-25 in the UK are organised, provided & experienced to inform service commissioning & delivery 1. To describe current YW services for YP with LTCs in the UK a) To generate a typology of different models of YW services b) To identify variation in organisation & delivery of YW services

c) To develop a sampling frame for WP2 2. To investigate six contrasting case studies of YW services to examine their organisation, delivery & integration:

a) Explore YP, parents, youth workers & other service providers experiences of YW services & their perceived influence on YP’s engagement & wellbeing

b) Identify facilitators/barriers to the organisation, provision & sustainability of YW services & contextual factors influencing these c) Investigate how YW services are integrated with the multi-disciplinary team & wider service system

3. To compare & contrast six case study services in relation to their acceptability, integration, sustainability & YP’s engagement & co-design a service development framework to guide the commissioning, organisation & provision of YW services for YP with LTCs METHODS

An exploratory mixed-methods design of two stages. (1) To meet aim 1 we will map current YW services in the UK that focus on YP with LTCs aged 11-25 provided by the NHS & other organisations using an online survey (2) To meet aims 2&3 we will sample 6 contrasting YW services from the service map. At each site interviews will be conducted with YP, parents, service providers, managers & commissioners.

Data will be analysed to co-develop a service development framework to guide the commissioning, organisation & delivery of YW services TIMELINES

The project lasts 30 months. In the first 6 months we will conduct the mapping survey. In months 7-26 we will carry out the case study stage. The final 4 months are dedicated to completing the analysis, dissemination & impact activities ANTICIPATED IMPACT/DISSEMINATION

New knowledge generated by the study will be used to co-develop an evidence-based service development framework. This aims to improve the commissioning & delivery of YW services to benefit YP health & wellbeing. Findings will be tailored for different audiences & disseminated to stakeholder groups in different ways to promote impact. Engagement of stakeholder groups has already commenced & will be intensified at study outset