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The impact of Recovery Colleges on mental health staff, services and society

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2018

A. Crowther ,
A. Taylor ,
R. Toney ,
S. Meddings ,
T. Whale ,
H. Jennings ,
K. Pollock ,
P. Bates ,
C. Henderson Open the ORCID record for C. Henderson [Opens in a new window]  and
J. Waring
...Show all authors
A. Crowther
Affiliation:
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, West Sussex, UK
A. Taylor
Affiliation:
King's College London, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
R. Toney
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
S. Meddings
Affiliation:
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, West Sussex, UK
T. Whale
Affiliation:
RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel, Nottingham, UK
H. Jennings
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, York St. John University, York, UK
K. Pollock
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
P. Bates
Affiliation:
Peter Bates Associates Ltd, Nottingham, UK
C. Henderson
Affiliation:
King's College London, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
J. Waring
Affiliation:
Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
M. Slade*
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mike Slade, E-mail: m.slade@nottingham.ac.uk
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Abstract

Aims

Recovery Colleges are opening internationally. The evaluation focus has been on outcomes for Recovery College students who use mental health services. However, benefits may also arise for: staff who attend or co-deliver courses; the mental health and social care service hosting the Recovery College; and wider society. A theory-based change model characterising how Recovery Colleges impact at these higher levels is needed for formal evaluation of their impact, and to inform future Recovery College development. The aim of this study was to develop a stratified theory identifying candidate mechanisms of action and outcomes (impact) for Recovery Colleges at staff, services and societal levels.

Methods

Inductive thematic analysis of 44 publications identified in a systematised review was supplemented by collaborative analysis involving a lived experience advisory panel to develop a preliminary theoretical framework. This was refined through semi-structured interviews with 33 Recovery College stakeholders (service user students, peer/non-peer trainers, managers, community partners, clinicians) in three sites in England.

Results

Candidate mechanisms of action and outcomes were identified at staff, services and societal levels. At the staff level, experiencing new relationships may change attitudes and associated professional practice. Identified outcomes for staff included: experiencing and valuing co-production; changed perceptions of service users; and increased passion and job motivation. At the services level, Recovery Colleges often develop somewhat separately from their host system, reducing the reach of the college into the host organisation but allowing development of an alternative culture giving experiential learning opportunities to staff around co-production and the role of a peer workforce. At the societal level, partnering with community-based agencies gave other members of the public opportunities for learning alongside people with mental health problems and enabled community agencies to work with people they might not have otherwise. Recovery Colleges also gave opportunities to beneficially impact on community attitudes.

Conclusions

This study is the first to characterise the mechanisms of action and impact of Recovery Colleges on mental health staff, mental health and social care services, and wider society. The findings suggest that a certain distance is needed in the relationship between the Recovery College and its host organisation if a genuine cultural alternative is to be created. Different strategies are needed depending on what level of impact is intended, and this study can inform decision-making about mechanisms to prioritise. Future research into Recovery Colleges should include contextual evaluation of these higher level impacts, and investigate effectiveness and harms.

Keywords

Mechanisms of actionmental health staffoutcomesRecovery Colleges
Type
Special Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 28 , Issue 5 , October 2019 , pp. 481 - 488
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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