Outcomes and learning
Outcomes
This technology has been a very successful addition to the mental health offer for children and young people. The mental health support teams are now trialling the use of the technology in different ways (for example offering it to a whole year 6 class to support with transition to secondary and also looking at whether the app could also support the neurodivergent pathway)
Following a successful implementation in the mental health support team the technology is now published on the local offer across the local authorities, reaching beyond just the mental health support team. It is also on the 'waiting well' letter when children are referred to CAMHS to provide support during this time.
This technology has proved to be beneficial for both children and the trust. Children now have access to an evidence based immersive gaming app to assist with symptoms of anxieties. Clinical capacity would not have been able to provide this level of support to the number of children that the app has reached.
The trust is now able to offer and provide early intervention to large numbers of primary school children who previously had no access to interventions aimed at them, without increased workload and capacity for teams.
As part of the early value assessment the technology is recommended while further evidence is generated. The NICE data requirements are being met by the company, there has been no impact on clinical or administrative staff.
Learning
The implementation of digital technologies within clinical teams is a new way of working and there were lessons to be learned for a pathway to implementation, with new processes to consider. It is important to recognise that clinical teams may not have the full skill set and capacity needed to manage the pathway to implementation, however there are teams available to support, including the technology company themselves and the digital team within an organisation. The process to implementation took approximately 12 months to complete, however there is now a Trust wide process in place to support the uptake of digital technologies and so in future with other new technologies the process is likely to be smoother.
In order to be successful, digital technologies need both a top down and bottom-up approach to implementation. Clinicians were vital as early adopters and are needed to champion and spread awareness, however a strategic view was also beneficial to spread the technology. Multi-agency working was also needed to ensure the technology reached as many children as possible.
Overall, this has been a hugely beneficial experience for the Trust. Gaining new skills in the use of digital technologies and innovation. The app is being used both as a standalone intervention and to complement early intervention or specialist treatment as usual.