A team of researchers at the University of Sussex have launched a set of guidelines to help practitioners provide better support to parents and children accessing mental health services online.
The Guidelines for Using Online Therapeutic Intervention follows a research project, “Zoom or Room” - Online v in-person therapy? funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration, Kent Surrey and Sussex and supported by Kent Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Science Network that took place last year and looked at the effectiveness and guidance for in-person versus online intervention session.
Professor Nicola Yuill, Professor of Psychology at the University of Sussex, who led the research said:
"The aim of this project was to explore how practitioners and their clients have adapted to online therapy and assessment that had shifted from in-person services, as a result of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns that followed. We wanted to understand what barriers people faced when accessing mental health services, and how to overcome these barriers to ensure online communications are as smooth as in-person ones.
"The findings reveal how online interventions can be effective with the right tools and capacities in place. We co-produced a set of guidelines aimed specifically at practitioners in mental health, education and social care settings, as well as their employers, that we hope will help them better support parents and their children accessing online services."
Dr Peter Tucker, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Research and Development Lead at Recolo UK Limited said:
"The guidelines are fabulous: I’ve got them printed out and up on my office wall."
The guidelines include:
- Advice on planning, ground rules and strategies for practitioners
- Points on support, information governance & policy guidance
- What clients need to consider when accessing online services
- Guidance on working online with groups of people
Download a copy of the guidelines here.
Video: Online intervention guidance for employers
Leaflet: Online intervention guidance for employers
Video: Online intervention guidance for practitioners
Leaflet: Online intervention guidance for practitioners
Video: Online intervention guidance for clients
Leaflet: Online intervention guidance for clients
Video: Online intervention guidance for groups
Leaflet: Online intervention guidance for groups
Further information University of Sussex's Interactions: Zoom or Room project
