Inpatient psychiatric services for children and adolescents in New Zealand: an exploratory case study

This qualitative observational case study will take place at the Regional Rangatahi Adolescent Inpatient Service (RRAIS) - the acute adolescent inpatient mental health unit for the central region of New Zealand. The purpose is to explore the view/experiences on the services provided of: current IPs; their whanau; and staff. Interviews will provide a single cross-sectional opportunity to gather data. Participants in the research will be required to complete the consent process and to participate in an interview; there will be no requirement to access health records or for participants to undergo any other assessments. All research will be undertaken by a PhD student from the University of Otago. The student is an experienced health service manager and researcher, with over 25 years of work experience in the UK and NZ health systems, and within a private research consultancy. Group 1: Service users - Participants: Current child and adolescent IPs of the mental health unit. - Focus: Service user views/ patient experience of the IP service. - Method: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews held on the unit lasting approximately 45-60 minutes with a maximum of 15 participants. Interviews will either be conducted on a one-to-one basis or in small groups (if this is the preference of participants). - Supporting information and research tools: Service user topic guide and interview questions; Service user information sheet – to provide tailored information on the study purpose, requirements of participants, eligibility, the consent process and where to go for further information; Consent forms - Service user consent form (to record participant consent where the lead clinician has confirmed the service user is able to provide informed consent); Service user assent form (to record permission to approach a parent/caregiver to provide consent for the service user to participate where the lead clinician has assessed that the service user is not able to provide informed consent); and Parental consent form and information sheet (to confirm their consent for the service user to participate where required). Group 2: Whanau/ family members - Participants: Whanau/ family members of current IP service users. - Focus: Whanau/ family members’ views/ experience of their child/adolescent admission. - Method: Semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 30-45 minutes with up to eight participants either by telephone or face-to-face on the unit. - Supporting information and research tools: Whanau topic guide and interview questions; - Whanau participant information sheet; and Whanau participant consent form (relating to their own participation). Group 3: Staff - Participants: Staff currently working at the mental health unit. - Focus: Staff members’ views/ experience of working within the service. - Method: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 60 minutes conducted with small groups (up to a maximum of 15 participants in total). - Supporting information and research tools: Staff member topic guide and interview questions; Staff member participant information sheet; and Staff member consent form.