Project details

Summary

What is the study about? What are you trying to find out?

We are carrying out a clinical trial of a talking therapy called Method of Levels for people using Early Intervention in Psychosis services. The therapy will be delivered by care coordinators who are working in Early Intervention in Psychosis services. We think that training care coordinators in Method of Levels therapy could make Early Intervention in Psychosis services more helpful for people using them.

There is already evidence to suggest that people using Early Intervention in Psychosis services find Method of Levels to be a helpful and acceptable therapy. We think that care coordinators could be well placed to deliver Method of Levels in their routine practice.

What does taking part involve?

This study is no longer looking for new participants but is still ongoing.

We will ask you to a number of complete questionnaires that ask about topics related to a service user's wellbeing, satisfied with your Early Intervention in Psychosis service, and the relationship with between the service user and the care coordinator. The research team will also ask you for some personal information.

Early Intervention in Psychosis services that are taking part in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The research team do not have any control over which group teams are assigned to. We will contact you to let you know to which group your team has been assigned. The two groups that teams will be assigned to are:

1. Control group: If the Early Intervention in Psychosis team you are working with is assigned to the control group, you will continue to work with your care coordinator as usual. You will be an important part of the study and the research team will continue to remain in contact with you.
2. Treatment group: If the Early Intervention in Psychosis team that you work with is assigned to the treatment group, you will also continue to work with your care coordinator as usual. In addition, however, your care coordinator will be invited to take part in Method of Levels training and supervision. This is designed to provide your care coordinator with skills and knowledge about Method of Levels so that they can deliver the therapy as part of their role. If you agree, your care coordinator might use Method of Levels in some of your meetings together. Your care coordinator will be asked to only use Method of Levels when you have given your consent for this to happen.

You will be asked to complete the same questionnaires that you completed at the start of the study three months later and then again six months later. 

If you are working with a care coordinator who has received Method of Levels training, you might also be invited to take part in an interview. These interviews are to help us understand people’s experiences of working with a care coordinator who has received Method of Levels training.

Some of the care coordinators working in teams in the treatment group will also be invited to attend a focus group. The focus groups will be used to help us understand how care coordinators felt about the Method of Levels training and supervision and learn more about their experience of delivering the therapy in clinical practice.

Who is it for?

This study is no longer looking for new participants but is still ongoing.

Service users: To take part in the study you needed to be:

• Receiving support from an Early Intervention in Psychosis service.
• Working with a care coordinator who is participating in the study
• Likely to continue working with the same care coordinator until the study ends.
• Able to provide informed consent to participate in the study.
• Able to understand enough written and spoken English to complete questionnaires and talk to your care coordinator without an interpreter.

Staff: To take part in the study you needed to be:

• Working in a care coordinator role within an Early Intervention in Psychosis service that is based within a participating NHS Trust.
• Willing and able to engage with Method of Levels training and clinical supervision.
• Supported by your employer to take part in the study.
• Likely to remain in your current post for at least 6 months after receiving the Method of Levels training.
•  Able to provide informed consent to take part in the study.

Why is it important? 

Many people say that taking part in research of this kind is a helpful experience. Some people report that taking part in research that helps to improve the quality of mental health services is rewarding. We think that many care coordinators will also value the opportunity to talk about their role. Care coordinators working in teams allocated to the treatment group will receive Method of Levels training and supervision to be able to use the therapy in their clinical practice. Care coordinators in teams allocated to the control group will also be offered Method of Levels training, but this will take place after the study has finished.

How can I find out more?

This study is no longer looking for new participants but is still ongoing.

However, if you have questions for the research team, click the button below to email the research team:

Email the research team