Psychological provision in acute inpatient settings: An evaluation of indirect input.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The role of Psychologists in psychiatric inpatient settings is well established and involves intervention at various levels; however, quantitative exploration of the effectiveness of staff-level interventions is lacking. The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a variety of staff-level interventions provided by a Psychology team within a psychiatric inpatient setting. The evaluation used a mixed methods approach incorporating pre-post quantitative data and post-intervention feedback. Additional data were collected via survey. Results indicated all staff-level interventions were effective in achieving their aims and were highly valued by staff. Qualitative data supported the quantitative findings and showed tentative suggestion of a change to clinical practice. Indirect psychology provision was found to significantly impact a range of staff attitudes and was highly valued by the staff team, supporting previous qualitative findings in psychiatric inpatient settings. Further quantitative evidence of the impact of staff-level interventions should be sought. Staff-level interventions are effective and valued by mental health nursing staff and should be considered in allocation of psychology resources. Furthermore, there is potential for people with lived experience to participate in these interventions, which could facilitate the therapeutic relationship and reduce restrictive practices, however this requires future research.