Evaluation of a new recovery college: delivering health outcomes and cost efficiencies via an educational approach
| Pages | 36-46 |
| Published date | 12 February 2019 |
| Date | 12 February 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-10-2018-0035 |
| Author | Katie Kay,George Edgley |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Evaluation of a new recovery college:
delivering health outcomes and cost
efficiencies via an educational approach
Katie Kay and George Edgley
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to evaluate cost efficiencies and health outcomes after one academic
year of course delivery, in a recovery college.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper used service evaluation and review of data.
Findings –There is significant impact on health outcomes when standardised measures of Patient Activation
Measure and Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale were completed pre- and post-intervention, with
indications of possible financial efficiencies identified within secondary care mental health pathways.
Research limitations/implications –The current evaluation sample is only representative of community
mental health populations rather than broader communities. However, indications are that the model is
effective from a wider public health perspective (early intervention/prevention) in producing significant health
outcomes in terms of improved wellbeing and increased levels of activation/self-management. More in-depth
research collaboration with an academic institution is now required.
Practical implications –There is an implication that the recovery college needs to be fully embedded within
the mental health pathway as part of the core offer. This would require significant service redesignand culture
change within the organisation.
Social implications –There is a need to continue to work with other statutory service providers, key
stakeholders, voluntary and community sectors to embed the college with wider public health services and
ensure a holistic approach across local communities and the whole health pathway.
Originality/value –Although the model is based on the widely recognised national recovery college model, it
has moved away from the usual boundaries of access only being for those attached to secondary care
mental health services to a more holistic and integrative approach of offering access to the whole population.
Social value is indicated in the ownership and co-production of the model by the collaboration of student
expertise, experts by experience and experts by expertise. The co-produced integrated volunteering and
work pathway offers positive and cost-efficient health outcomes from a co-designed and co-delivered
educational approach.
Keywords Narrative, Outcomes, Effectiveness, Efficiency
Paper type Case study
Introduction
In April 2016, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (PCFT) began the development of a recovery
college based on the nationally recognised model (as outlined by Perkins et al., 2012); this was
locally branded the “Health and Wellbeing College”.
Initial set-up funding was derived from all mental health commissioners across the five PCFT
boroughs in year 1, and in year 2, the Trust funded ongoing delivery.
From the outset, the College aimed to provide something very different for local people by
delivering an innovative programme to improve wellbeing, adopting recovery values within an
educational framework in order to produce improved health outcomes. It saw a move away from
a traditional clinical/medical focus to an educational approach, empowering people to take
control of their health and wellbeing, while learning new skills, making friends and connecting
Katie Kay and George Edgley
are both based at Health and
Wellbeing College, Pennine
Care NHS Foundation Trust,
Ashton-under-Lyne, UK.
PAG E 36
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 23 NO. 1 2019, pp. 36-46, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-10-2018-0035
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