Social Care Staff Research Articles

COVID-19 £500 bonus payments for pharmacists

Pharmacists are among health and social care staff in Wales set to receive a bonus payment in recognition of their “extraordinary contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic”, the Welsh government has said. In a statement published on 17 March 2021, the Welsh government said that the one-off payment would be equivalent to £735 per person and […]

The attitudes towards LGBT people among workers delivering key public services: The first regional study in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Public perceptions (particularly in post-communist societies) of the LGBT community and related issues have extensively been studied in recent years. Still, so far there is little information about how specific occupational groups view these people. The given research paper is intended to somewhat fill this gap by presenting a thorough description and analysis of findings from an empirical study focusing on the attitudes towards LGBT individuals among three occupational groups such as medical workers, social workers and the police. The relevance of the chosen topic is determined by the fact that a personʼs physical and mental health or even life may often depend on the quality and timeliness of services provided by these professionals. The above-mentioned study consisted of two cross-sectional surveys performed in 2017 and 2019. In total, approximately 1,500 persons (nurses, family practitioners, social care staff, patrol officers, etc.) from five countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia) took part in the two rounds of this study. Research toolkit included a questionnaire (designed by the authors for each occupational group) and the Bogardus social distance scale. Respondents were recruited through snowball sampling, which involved using personal and professional contacts. The survey data indicated the following: (a) the overall attitude of the aforementioned occupational groups towards LGBT people is somewhat positive; in addition, social workers are the most favourably disposed to the LGBT community while the police take a cautious approach to LGBT issues; (b) the overwhelming majority of respondents (except for police officers in Kyrgyzstan) believe that LGBT people should enjoy the same rights as the other citizens of their country; nevertheless, only a third of those surveyed hold the opinion that same-sex marriages should be permitted by law and about one fifth express support for the right of same-sex couples to adopt children; (c) women, residents of Belarus and North Macedonia, religiously unaffiliated respondents and those having an LGBT acquaintance exhibit greater tolerance for LGBT individuals than men, residents of Armenia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, those belonging to a particular religion and respondents without LGBT acquaintances; (d) during the period under study, a noticeable change in the attitude towards LGBT persons occurred in some subsamples: among Armenian healthcare workers, for example, there was a steep fall in support for the right of LGBT couples to marry. However, little or no change was recorded in other subsamples or in the whole sample: a slight growth in the overall percentage of respondents favouring the idea of LGBT parenting is a case in point. Although the samples of the countries in question are not nationally representative, the research results have a certain empirical value because they can be taken into consideration while developing programmes aimed at fostering tolerance in society and improving attitudes to LGBT people.

Supporting people with learning disabilities who identify as LGBT to express their sexual and gender identities

People with learning disabilities experience many barriers that prevent them from expressing their sexuality and developing loving and sexual relationships, particularly if they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT). This article explores the challenges faced by people with learning disabilities who identify as LGBT in expressing their sexual identities and having sexual relationships, as well as the challenges faced by support workers and health and social care staff in supporting clients in those aspects of their lives. The method used consisted of combining the lived experiences of participants in a Twitter chat with an exploration of the recent literature.The themes that emerged from these combined sources included the importance of love and sexual relationships, the policy context, legal framework, barriers in practice and the concept of intersectionality. This article discusses these themes and outlines implications for practice and research, including the training needs of staff.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusion in nursing services: a reflective case study from stoma care

Speaking with a female patient and her same-sex partner about their experiences of colorectal cancer and ileostomy surgery led to reflection on how specialist nursing care could be made more inclusive of the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The LGBT community includes people who are attracted to the same sex and/or identify as a different gender to the one they were assigned at birth. LGBT people in the UK have experienced a long history of discrimination and only begun to win legal protections over the past two decades, an experience that still affects the older generation especially. Compared with the general population, LGBT people are more likely to report poor health status, experience mental health issues and engage in risky behaviours; however, many are reluctant to attend healthcare services due to fear of discrimination. UK LGBT rights charity charity Stonewall surveys have revealed some discriminatory attitudes and widespread unconscious bias among health and social care staff. For health professionals, it can be a challenge to use the correct terminology to avoid causing offen ce, and there is a largely unmet need for inclusion training to improve their understanding and confidence to speak with patients about sexual preference and gender identity. However, confident LGBT inclusivity can be achieved with simple communication skills, such as equal treatment for same-sex partners, acknowledgement of post-transition names and pronouns and discretion in documentation, as well as awareness of verbal and non-verbal cues. Clinic environments can be made more LGBT-friendly with gender-neutral toilets, as well as wearable LGBT symbols, inclusive imagery and posters and literature that promotes LGBT rights, inclusion and support groups. Specialist nurses can act as role models and advocates for LGBT patients and colleagues in their area through small but impactful actions.

A response to Bates, C et al (2020) “Always trying to walk a bit of a tightrope”: The role of social care staff in supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop and maintain loving relationships. British Journal of Learning Disabilities

British Journal of Learning DisabilitiesVolume 48, Issue 4 p. 269-271 IN RESPONSE A response to Bates, C et al (2020) “Always trying to walk a bit of a tightrope”: The role of social care staff in supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop and maintain loving relationships. British Journal of Learning Disabilities Beth Lewis, Beth Lewis Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, WalesSearch for more papers by this authorSimon Richards, Simon Richards Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, WalesSearch for more papers by this authorSimon Rice, Simon Rice Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, WalesSearch for more papers by this authorAnne Collis, Corresponding Author Anne Collis welshflier@gmail.com Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, Wales Correspondence Anne Collis, Barod Community Interest Company, 16 Spilman Street, Carmarthen SA31 1JY, Wales. Email: welshflier@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this author Beth Lewis, Beth Lewis Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, WalesSearch for more papers by this authorSimon Richards, Simon Richards Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, WalesSearch for more papers by this authorSimon Rice, Simon Rice Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, WalesSearch for more papers by this authorAnne Collis, Corresponding Author Anne Collis welshflier@gmail.com Barod Community Interest Company, Swansea, Wales Correspondence Anne Collis, Barod Community Interest Company, 16 Spilman Street, Carmarthen SA31 1JY, Wales. Email: welshflier@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this author First published: 23 October 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12352Citations: 2Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume48, Issue4December 2020Pages 269-271 RelatedInformation

Ageing simulation in health and social care education: A mixed methods systematic review.

To identify, evaluate and summarize evidence from qualitative, quantitative and mixed method studies conducted using age suits or other age simulation equipment, with health and social care students. Convergent segregated mixed method review design as outlined by the Johanna Briggs Institute. CINAHL (+ with Full Text), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, SocINDEX, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emerald Insight, Proquest nursing, Science Direct, Wiley Online and BioMed Central (January 2000-January 2020). Convergent segregated synthesis was used to synthesize evidence from the studies and the MERSQI checklist used to appraise quality. A total of 23 studies were reviewed: one randomized control, two post-test only randomized control, three quasi-experimental, 15 one-group pre/post studies and two qualitative studies. Of the seventeen studies carrying out inferential statistics on attitude scores post intervention, 11 reported an improvement, three indicated no significant change and three reported worsening scores. Key themes included use of appropriate scales, type of equipment used, location and length of interactions, debriefing and contextualization of interventions in broader teaching. The impact of ageing simulation interventions on health and social care student's attitudes to older people was predominantly positive. However, further high-quality research is warranted to understand the optimal use of such interventions in the context of health care for a growing ageing population. It is important health and social care staff have appropriate knowledge and training to enable them to provide high-quality care to older people and challenge potential ageism in the system. This review adds to the body of work around the use of simulation and experiential learning to educate health and social care students about ageing and ageism. It also offers recommendations for using ageing simulations effectively to inform attitudes of prospective professionals who will influence future health and social care.

Long-COVID, a term that’s all too apt

COVID-19 was never going to be all over and done with by Christmas, as once suggested by prime minister Boris Johnson. Health and social care staff know this from first-hand experience.

From ovid to COVID: the metamorphosis of advanced decisions to refuse treatment into a safeguarding issue

Purpose This paper aims to examine advance decisions to refuse treatment (ADRTs) in the context of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019) pandemic. This study considers the development of ADRTs, the lack of take up and confusion among the general public, clinicians and health and social care staff. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a conceptual piece that reflects on ADRTs in the particular context of COVID-19. It considers professional concerns and pronouncements on ADRTs. Findings ADRTs have a low take up currently. There is misunderstanding among public and professionals. There is a need for raising awareness, developing practice and a need to allay fears of misuse and abuse of ADRTs in clinical, health and social care settings. Practical implications The authors make recommendations that reflexive training and awareness become the norm in health and social care, that reform of ADRTs is undertaken to prevent misunderstandings and that the person becomes central in all decision-making processes. Originality/value This paper is original in considering ADRTs as a safeguarding issue from two perspectives: that of the person making the ADRT and being confident in respect for the decisions made; and that of clinicians and other professionals being reflexively aware of the need to accept advance decisions and not acting according to unconscious biases in times of crisis.

New Ways of Working? A Rapid Exploration of Emerging Evidence Regarding the Care of Older People during COVID19.

Health and social care staff have had to quickly adapt, respond and improve teamwork, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to rapidly summarize the emerging evidence of new ways of working in the care of older people during this period. We conducted an exploration of the emerging evidence within the timeframe of 1 March 2020 to 11 May 2020. To capture a broad perspective, we undertook thematic analysis of Twitter data which was extracted through a broad search for new ways of working in health and social care. For a more in-depth focus on the health and social care of older people, we undertook a systematic scoping of newspapers using the Nexis UK database. We undertook a validation workshop with members of the interprofessional working group of the Irish National Integrated Care Programme for Older People, and with researchers. A total of 317 tweets were extracted related to six new ways of working. There was evidence of using telehealth to provide ongoing care to patients; interprofessional work; team meetings using online platforms; trust and collaboration within teams; as well as teams feeling empowered to change at a local level. 34 newspaper articles were extracted related to new ways of working in the care of older people, originating in England (n = 17), Wales (n = 6), Scotland (n = 6), Ireland (n = 4) and Germany (n = 1). Four main themes were captured that focused on role expansion, innovations in communication, environmental restructuring and enablement. The results of this exploration of emerging evidence show that health and social care teams can transform very rapidly. Much of the change was based on goodwill as a response to the pandemic. Further analysis of empirical evidence of changing practices should include the perspectives of older people and should capture the resources needed to sustain innovations, as well as evaluate gaps in service provision.

A person-centred approach to implementation of psychosocial interventions with people who have an intellectual disability and dementia-A participatory action study.

Numbers of people with an intellectual disability and dementia present a global health and social challenge with associated need to reduce stress or agitation and improve quality of life in affected individuals. This study aimed to identify effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in social care settings and, uniquely, explore use of photovoice methodology to develop dialogue about dementia. This mixed-method participatory action study used individualised goal-setting theory with 16 participants with intellectual disability and dementia, and 22 social care staff across 11 sites. Five co-researchers with intellectual disability were part of an inclusive research team collecting data using existing and bespoke tools including photovoice. Analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics and framework analysis. Seventy four percentage of individual goals met or exceeded expectations with reduction in some "as required" medication. Qualitative findings include themes of enabling care and interventions as tools for practice. Photovoice provided insight into previously unreported fears about dementia. Individualized psychosocial interventions have potential to reduce distress or agitation.

Covid-19: Government failed to protect social care during pandemic, say experts.

The covid-19 pandemic has exposed longstanding failures of successive governments to ensure that the social care sector in England is properly funded, staffed, and stable, concludes a new analysis from a leading think tank. The Health Foundation published two briefing papers on 30 July analysing the effects of the pandemic on social care users and staff in England1 and the policy response so far from the government.2 The papers were published just a day after the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee criticised the government for its “inconsistent and at times negligent approach” to social care during the pandemic.3 Overall, the Health Foundation authors said that their findings provided more evidence that the government had acted too slowly, provided insufficient support to social care, and given far lower priority to protecting social care than to the NHS. …

Improving community health and social care practitioners' confidence, perceived competence and intention to use behaviour change techniques in health behaviour change conversations.

Community health and social care practitioners play an increasingly important role in the health promotion agenda, but lack confidence in having effective health behaviour change (HBC) conversations with members of the public. This study reports the development and evaluation of a training intervention based on health psychology to improve health and social care practitioner self-rated confidence, competence and intention to use five behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in their HBC conversations. A 2-day behavioural science interprofessional skills training course plus online learning module was designed for health and social care staff across North East Scotland, teaching five evidence-based BCTs (e.g. Action Planning), plus person-centred communication skills. Participants rated confidence, competence and future intention to use the BCTs on likert scales (1-10) pre-course and post-course, and provided acceptability data. 177 participants aged 20-64 took part, qualitative and quantitative data suggested that the course had high acceptability. Paired samples t tests (n=120 with complete data) showed significant improvements in confidence, competence and intention following the course, which remained significant with a conservative analysis (n=174) assuming no change for missing data. Perceived competence in Action Planning increased most during the course (mean change 3.09). In conclusion, health psychology-based skills training can improve practitioner confidence, competence and intention to use evidence-based BCTs; further evaluation is needed to assess practice change.

Good Care Month

Nursing and Residential CareVol. 22, No. 7 EditorialGood Care MonthLinda NazarkoLinda NazarkoConsultant Nurse, West London NHS TrustSearch for more papers by this authorLinda NazarkoPublished Online:18 Jun 2020https://doi.org/10.12968/nrec.2020.22.7.1AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article References Chirgwin M. Staff turnover in social care cited as highest of any sector in UK. Homecare. 19 March 2019. www.homecare.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1607171/staff-turnover-in-socal-care-cited-as-the-highest-of-any-sector-in-the-uk (accessed 2 June 2020) Google ScholarCostello H, Cooper C, Marston L, Livingston G. Burnout in UK care home staff and its effect on staff turnover: MARQUE English national care home longitudinal survey. Age Ageing. 2020;49(1): 74–81. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afz118 Crossref, Google ScholarCroner-i. Recruiting social care staff from abroad: in-depth. 2020. https://app.croneri.co.uk/topics/recruiting-social-care-staff-abroad/indepth?product=218 (accessed 2 June 2020) Google ScholarMy Home Life. What makes life good in care homes? 2014. www.myhomelife.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ID600-What-makes-life-good-in-care-homesV4.pdf (accessed 2 June 2020) Google ScholarSouthwest London Health and Social Care Partnership. Nursing associates. 2020. www.swlondon.nhs.uk/ourwork/workforce/apprenticeships/trainee-nurse-associates/ (accessed 2 June 2020) Google ScholarLievesley N, Crosby G, Bowman C. The changing role of care homes with a historical perspective by Eric Midwinter. Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA) and BUPA. 2011. www.cpa.org.uk/information/reviews/changingroleofcarehomes.pdf (accessed 2 June 2020) Google ScholarOffice for National Statistics (ONS). Changes in the older resident care home population between 2001 and 2011. 2014. www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/ageing/articles/changesintheolderresidentcarehomepopulationbetween2001and2011/2014-08-01 (accessed 2 June 2020) Google ScholarTaylor C. Social care workforce study. The Care Association Alliance. 2018. http://careassociationalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Care-Association-Alliance-Social-care-Workforce-Analysis-2018.pdf (accessed 9 June 2020) Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 July 2020Volume 22Issue 7ISSN (print): 1465-9301ISSN (online): 2052-2932 Metrics History Published online 18 June 2020 Published in print 2 July 2020 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Engaging Community Health Workers and Social Care Staff as Social First Responders during the COVID-19 Crisis.

In this public health practice vignette, we describe an ongoing community and system intervention to identify and address social determinants of health and related needs experienced by ChristianaCare patients and the greater community during the Coronavirus pandemic. This intervention, being conducted by the ChristianaCare Office of Health Equity, in partnership with ChristianaCare’s embedded research institute, the Value Institute, and the Community Outreach and Education division of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, engages more than 25 community health workers, health Guides, Latinx health promoters and other social care staff as social first responders during the COVID-19 crisis. These experienced front-line social care staff screen patients and community members for social needs; make referrals to agencies and organizations for needed assistance (e.g., food, housing, financial assistance); assess people’s understanding of COVID-19 and preventive measures; provide education about COVID-19; and, connect patients and community members to COVID-19 testing and any relevant clinical services. While this ongoing intervention is under evaluation, we share here some preliminary lessons-learned and discuss the critical role that social first responders can play in reducing the growing adverse social and health impacts of COVID-19 across the state of Delaware.

Safeguarding Children and Young People During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Safeguarding Children and Young People During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Defining Delayed Discharges of Inpatients and Their Impact in Acute Hospital Care: A Scoping Review.

Background: With the ever-increasing demand on acute healthcare, the hospital discharge process and delayed discharges are considered relevant in achieving optimal performance in clinical settings. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature to identify conceptual and operational definitions of delayed discharges, identify causes and effects of delayed discharges, and also to explore the literature for interventions aimed at decreasing the impact (in terms of reducing the number/rate of delays) of delayed discharges in acute healthcare settings. Methods: An extensive literature search yielded a total of 26 248 records. Sixty-four research articles were included in the scoping review after considering inclusion/exclusion criteria and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) search strategy. The following databases were utilized: Cochrane, EBSCO, PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline, and Web of Science. The search was carried out between January 2017 and March 2020 and covered literature ranging from 1990 to 2019. Results were reviewed by authors for duplicates and filtered using the inclusion/ exclusion criteria. Tables were created to classify the chosen articles (n = 64), allowing us to organise findings and results. Results: Conceptual and operational definitions were analysed. In turn, causes and effects of delayed discharges were extracted and represented in diagrammatic format, together with specific interventions used in acute healthcare settings to lessen the effect of delayed discharges. Operational definitions of delayed discharges were found to be more difficult to establish, particularly in the light of the vast number of different scenarios and workplace interventions uncovered in the literature. The main causes of delayed discharges were faulty organisational management, inadequate discharge planning, transfer of care problems, and age. The main effects were bed-blocking, A&E (Accident & Emergency) overcrowding, and financial implications. The main interventions included ‘discharge before noon’ initiative, ‘discharge facilitation tools,’ ‘discharge delay tracking’ mechanisms, and the role of general practitioners and social care staff. Conclusion: This paper fills a gap in the fragmented literature on delayed inpatient discharges by providing a researchbased perspective on conceptual and operational definitions, causes and effects, as well as interventions to minimize their impact. The findings and definitions are intended as points of reference for future research.

Care navigators decision-making in prescribing Telecare for older people.

This aim of this study was to explore the decision-making process of Care Navigators in prescribing Telecare for older people living at home. The study took place in the South of England. A structured model of decision-making was used as the theoretical framework and a qualitative approach was employed. Care Navigators (n=7), acting on behalf of the Local Authority as 'external trusted assessors' were interviewed according to a semi-structured interview schedule. Documentary evidence of decision-making (Telecare Reasoning Forms) (n=10), were also analysed and added to the interview data. The main themes identified were the process of decision-making, training needs, and the support of Care Navigators and partnership working. Care Navigators adopted a complex decision-making process involving information gathering, information synthesis, consideration of alternatives to Telecare and implementation. Decision-making has a strong ethical dimension, especially around funding. Training focused on the functioning and technical aspects of equipment. However, other training needs were identified in order to support decision-making, for example, assessing mental capacity. Peer support networks were valuable to Care Navigators and they developed good relationships with social care and Telecare provider staff. However, professionals making referrals to the Care Navigators for Telecare often did not understand their role or funding eligibility. In conclusion, Care Navigators are well-placed to prescribe Telecare in terms of knowledge and decision-making skills. Comprehensive training is necessary in order to support decision-making. Peer support and education of professionals referring for Telecare is also advocated.

More that unites us than divides us? A qualitative study of integration of community health and social care services

BackgroundThe integration of community health and social care services has been widely promoted nationally as a vital step to improve patient centred care, reduce costs, reduce admissions to hospital and facilitate timely and effective discharge from hospital. The complexities of integration raise questions about the practical challenges of integrating health and care given embedded professional and organisational boundaries in both sectors. We describe how an English city created a single, integrated care partnership, to integrate community health and social care services. This led to the development of 12 integrated neighbourhood teams, combining and co-locating professionals across three separate localities. The aim of this research is to identify the context and the factors enabling and hindering integration from a qualitative process evaluation.MethodsTwenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with equal numbers of health and social care staff at strategic and operational level. The data was subjected to thematic analysis.ResultsWe describe three key themes: 1) shared vision and leadership; 2) organisational factors; 3) professional workforce factors. We found a clarity of vision and purpose of integration throughout the partnership, but there were challenges related to the introduction of devolved leadership. There were widespread concerns that the specified outcome measures did not capture the complexities of integration. Organisational challenges included a lack of detail around clinical and service delivery planning, tensions around variable human resource practices and barriers to data sharing. A lack of understanding and trust meant professional workforce integration remained a key challenge, although integration was also seen as a potential solution to engender relationship building.ConclusionsGiven the long-term national policy focus on integration this ambitious approach to integrate community health and social care has highlighted implications for leadership, organisational design and inter-professional working. Given the ethos of valuing the local assets of individuals and networks within the new partnership we found the integrated neighbourhood teams could all learn from each other. Many of the challenges of integration could benefit from embracing the inherent capabilities across the integrated neighbourhood teams and localities of this city.

“Always trying to walk a bit of a tightrope”: The role of social care staff in supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop and maintain loving relationships

Accessible Summary Support staff play an important role in helping people with learning disabilities to meet a partner and have a relationship. Not getting good support can make it difficult for people to have a relationship. Many support staff want to help people to have a relationship, but are worried about people being abused. This is especially true for those who do not have a lot of staff support. Support staff do not always get good support themselves to help people with learning disabilities to have relationships, such as training and a policy to follow. This makes it hard for them to know what they are allowed to help with. AbstractBackgroundPeople with intellectual and developmental disabilities face challenges in developing and maintaining intimate relationships, frequently requiring support from staff.MethodFocus groups were conducted with 26 social care staff members to explore the support they provided to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to find a potential partner and/or develop an existing relationship.ResultsStaff reported that many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities wanted to be in a relationship and that they did what they could to facilitate this, sometimes providing substantial support. Some staff had to address complex issues relating to sexuality, often with no training and with a lack of clear organisational policies.ConclusionThe need for external inspection and regulatory bodies to prioritise relationship support is emphasised.

Validity, reliability, acceptability, and utility of the Social Inclusion Questionnaire User Experience (SInQUE): a clinical tool to facilitate social inclusion amongst people with severe mental health problems

BackgroundIndividuals with severe mental health problems are at risk of social exclusion, which may complicate their recovery. Mental health and social care staff have, until now, had no valid or reliable way of assessing their clients’ social inclusion. The Social Inclusion Questionnaire User Experience (SInQUE) was developed to address this. It assesses five domains: social integration; productivity; consumption; access to services; and political engagement, in the year prior to first psychiatric admission (T1) and the year prior to interview (T2) from which a total score at each time point can be calculated.AimsTo establish the validity, reliability, and acceptability of the SInQUE in individuals with a broad range of psychiatric diagnoses receiving care from community mental health services and its utility for mental health staff.MethodParticipants were 192 mental health service users with psychosis, personality disorder, or common mental disorder (e.g., depression, anxiety) who completed the SInQUE alongside other validated outcome measures. Test–retest reliability was assessed in a sub-sample of 30 participants and inter-rater reliability was assessed in 11 participants. SInQUE ratings of 28 participants were compared with those of a sibling with no experience of mental illness to account for shared socio-cultural factors. Acceptability and utility of the tool were assessed using completion rates and focus groups with staff.ResultsThe SInQUE demonstrated acceptable convergent validity. The total score and the Social Integration domain score were strongly correlated with quality of life, both in the full sample and in the three diagnostic groups. Discriminant validity and test–retest reliability were established across all domains, although the test–retest reliability on scores for the Service Access and Political Engagement domains prior to first admission to hospital (T1) was lower than other domains. Inter-rater reliability was excellent for all domains at T1 and T2.ConclusionsThe component of the SInQUE that assesses current social inclusion has good psychometric properties and can be recommended for use by mental health staff.