A qualitative investigation of views on practice in early support hubs from staff working in care and support roles

Early Support Hubs have recently become widespread in the UK and aim to provide community-based, easy access mental health support to young people aged 11-25, integrating a variety of forms of support. Evidence is needed on the role such services aim to fulfil in addressing young people’s mental health needs, perceived good practice in their operations and challenges encountered in achieving this. In order to understand this, we conducted individual interviews with 24 staff members from eight Hubs across England. We analysed data using codebook thematic analysis, identifying five themes: providing varied and holistic support; supported signposting and referrals; visibility and accessibility of hubs; important values embedded in the model, and remaining unmet needs. All participants felt that receiving care from Early Support Hubs could improve young people’s mental health, wellbeing and social circumstances. Important values guiding the practice of Hubs included being youth-centred, providing easily accessible and comfortable safe spaces, and employing staff whose approach is in keeping with Hubs’ values and ethos. Barriers to implementing the intended model included inadequate staffing levels, limited opening hours, and high staff turnover. Where they could not meet young people’s mental health needs, an intended role of the Hubs was to support them to find appropriate help: however, young people with significant mental health difficulties referred on by the Hubs sometimes did not meet high thresholds for receiving treatment from local mental health services. Research is needed to further understand the Hubs’ role in the system as a whole, their overall impact on addressing the rising burden of young people’s mental ill health, and how well-functioning local service systems that do not result in significant gaps in provision can be established.