Using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)

Abstract Background People in the criminal justice system have complex needs but often do not make use of services outside of prison, in many cases due to poorly joined up working between health and criminal justice services. The ‘Engager’ programme aimed to develop a complex collaborative care inte...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Charlotte Lennox, Rachel Stevenson, Christabel Owens, Richard Byng, Sarah L. Brand, Mike Maguire, Graham Durcan, Caroline Stevenson, Jenny Shaw, Cath Quinn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-02-01
Series:Health & Justice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-021-00131-z
_version_ 1819170531028500480
author Charlotte Lennox
Rachel Stevenson
Christabel Owens
Richard Byng
Sarah L. Brand
Mike Maguire
Graham Durcan
Caroline Stevenson
Jenny Shaw
Cath Quinn
author_facet Charlotte Lennox
Rachel Stevenson
Christabel Owens
Richard Byng
Sarah L. Brand
Mike Maguire
Graham Durcan
Caroline Stevenson
Jenny Shaw
Cath Quinn
author_sort Charlotte Lennox
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background People in the criminal justice system have complex needs but often do not make use of services outside of prison, in many cases due to poorly joined up working between health and criminal justice services. The ‘Engager’ programme aimed to develop a complex collaborative care intervention for people leaving prison with common mental health problems that could support their transition into the community and facilitate joined up working between health, justice and social services. To augment our core intervention theory, we wanted to learn from innovative and forward-thinking services providing interagency support and/or treatment for people experiencing common mental health problems within the criminal justice system. We wanted to identify key elements of interagency practice to understand what was and was not effective in engaging people, maintaining their contact and improving mental health and other aspects of their lives. Method We used a multiple case study design with a focused ethnographic approach in four study sites. Data came from three sources (documents, field notes and semi-structured interviews) underwent a framework analysis. Results We identified seven main themes, namely: collaboration, client engagement, client motivation, supervision, therapeutic approach, peers and preparations for ending. Engaging and motivating clients was dependent on the relationship built with the professional. This relationship was developed through building trust and rapport, which required time and respectful, open and honest communication. Professionals were often unable to build this relationship effectively if they did not work in effective interagency collaborations, particularly those which included shared practices and were supported by effective supervision. Conclusions The multiple case study design contributed insights as to how health and justice services work together. The main themes identified are well known factors in health and justice co-working. However, the novel insights were gleaned examining interdependence and interactions in complex, multifactorial phenomena and practice, in particular the importance of shared practice and supervision models. The approach of selecting a small number of cases representing identified knowledge gaps contributed a valuable addition to the program theory and delivery for an innovative complex intervention.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T19:36:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fa60a9b443154ffea61746bb47146140
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2194-7899
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T19:36:52Z
publishDate 2021-02-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Health & Justice
spelling doaj.art-fa60a9b443154ffea61746bb471461402022-12-21T18:14:58ZengBMCHealth & Justice2194-78992021-02-019111510.1186/s40352-021-00131-zUsing multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)Charlotte Lennox0Rachel Stevenson1Christabel Owens2Richard Byng3Sarah L. Brand4Mike Maguire5Graham Durcan6Caroline Stevenson7Jenny Shaw8Cath Quinn9Division of Psychology and Mental Health, The University of ManchesterDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, The University of ManchesterUniversity of Exeter Medical SchoolCommunity and Primary Care Research Group, University of PlymouthUniversity of Exeter Medical SchoolCentre for Criminology, University of South WalesCentre for Mental HealthDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, The University of ManchesterDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, The University of ManchesterCommunity and Primary Care Research Group, University of PlymouthAbstract Background People in the criminal justice system have complex needs but often do not make use of services outside of prison, in many cases due to poorly joined up working between health and criminal justice services. The ‘Engager’ programme aimed to develop a complex collaborative care intervention for people leaving prison with common mental health problems that could support their transition into the community and facilitate joined up working between health, justice and social services. To augment our core intervention theory, we wanted to learn from innovative and forward-thinking services providing interagency support and/or treatment for people experiencing common mental health problems within the criminal justice system. We wanted to identify key elements of interagency practice to understand what was and was not effective in engaging people, maintaining their contact and improving mental health and other aspects of their lives. Method We used a multiple case study design with a focused ethnographic approach in four study sites. Data came from three sources (documents, field notes and semi-structured interviews) underwent a framework analysis. Results We identified seven main themes, namely: collaboration, client engagement, client motivation, supervision, therapeutic approach, peers and preparations for ending. Engaging and motivating clients was dependent on the relationship built with the professional. This relationship was developed through building trust and rapport, which required time and respectful, open and honest communication. Professionals were often unable to build this relationship effectively if they did not work in effective interagency collaborations, particularly those which included shared practices and were supported by effective supervision. Conclusions The multiple case study design contributed insights as to how health and justice services work together. The main themes identified are well known factors in health and justice co-working. However, the novel insights were gleaned examining interdependence and interactions in complex, multifactorial phenomena and practice, in particular the importance of shared practice and supervision models. The approach of selecting a small number of cases representing identified knowledge gaps contributed a valuable addition to the program theory and delivery for an innovative complex intervention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-021-00131-zCase study designHealth servicesJustice servicesCommon mental healthInteragency workingCollaboration
spellingShingle Charlotte Lennox
Rachel Stevenson
Christabel Owens
Richard Byng
Sarah L. Brand
Mike Maguire
Graham Durcan
Caroline Stevenson
Jenny Shaw
Cath Quinn
Using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)
Health & Justice
Case study design
Health services
Justice services
Common mental health
Interagency working
Collaboration
title Using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)
title_full Using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)
title_fullStr Using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)
title_full_unstemmed Using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)
title_short Using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison-leavers with common mental health problems (Engager)
title_sort using multiple case studies of health and justice services to inform the development of a new complex intervention for prison leavers with common mental health problems engager
topic Case study design
Health services
Justice services
Common mental health
Interagency working
Collaboration
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-021-00131-z
work_keys_str_mv AT charlottelennox usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT rachelstevenson usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT christabelowens usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT richardbyng usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT sarahlbrand usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT mikemaguire usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT grahamdurcan usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT carolinestevenson usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT jennyshaw usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager
AT cathquinn usingmultiplecasestudiesofhealthandjusticeservicestoinformthedevelopmentofanewcomplexinterventionforprisonleaverswithcommonmentalhealthproblemsengager