Service Providers’ Perspectives of an Integrated Community Mental Health Service in the UK

Abstract

This qualitative service evaluation aims to provide in-depth insights of service providers’ perspectives of a new integrated community mental health service piloted in one NHS Integrated Care Board locality in South West England, UK, considering to what extent the service is meeting the mental health support needs of adults who are in between primary and secondary care services. In total, 21 semi-structured remote interviews were carried out in June-August 2023 with service providers and lived experience representatives. The evaluation was carried out through a researcher in residence -placement. Qualitative analysis drew on framework and thematic analysis, which was completed using Nvivo 20. Thematic analysis drew on a framework of context, mechanisms and intended or unintended consequences. These showed that service providers’ positive expectations of the service were undermined by insufficient integration, which was evident from the imbalances in information flow and presence of pre-existing provider specific practices. The evaluation found several improvement opportunities: a need for deepening integration beyond the initial service development phase; aligning working practices with service delivery aims and ensuring that new services are not rolled out prematurely before service delivery practices have been fully developed.