Over a two year period, we will develop the Community Navigator role and test this programme of support with service users from secondary mental health services, seeking feedback throughout. Community Navigators aim to reduce loneliness by supporting service users to increase their community connections and social contact. Read our blog for more information on the development process of the intervention.
We will involve participants and clinicians from two sites
in all stages of the study: the Complex Depression, Anxiety and Trauma Team
within Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and people who were supported by the Barnet Complex
Care Team in Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Foundation Trust (BEH). Due to the restructuring of mental health services in Barnet, this now includes people from the North, South, East and West Locality Teams.
Aims
Through the study, we aim to:
- Develop a social intervention to address the problem of loneliness involving Community Navigators and a personal budget for people with complex depression and anxiety currently using secondary mental health services.
- Refine this programme through initial testing and feedback with 10 service users.
- Conduct a feasibility trial of the programme with 40 service users to test the feasibility of participant recruitment and retention and investigate optimal trial procedures.
- Explore experience of the programme and develop a theory of change model based on user-led interviews with service users receiving the intervention, Community Navigators, clinicians and others involved in the programme.