Acceptability, Feasibility, and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Wellbeing Coordination Program in an Integrated Health and Social Care Hub: A Mixed Methods Study.

INTRODUCTION

Families experiencing adversity often have complex needs and face barriers to accessing health and social care. This study evaluated the acceptability, feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a Wellbeing Coordination (WBC) program to improve access to services. The program combined care navigation and social prescribing within an integrated health and social care Child and Family Hub.

METHODS

Mixed-methods design, with data collected through surveys and interviews from: 1) caregivers who participated in the WBC program ( = 11) and those who did not ( = 18), and 2) practitioners working in the Hub ( = 21).

RESULTS

Caregivers and practitioners found the WBC program acceptable and mostly feasible, demonstrating the potential to alleviate caregivers' loneliness and enhance their health, connection to the community, and knowledge and confidence in supporting child and family health and wellbeing.

DISCUSSION

Future WBC program enhancements could include a robust communication strategy to ensure what the program offers is clearly understood by practitioners and caregivers, establishing organisational structures to provide adequate support for the wellbeing coordinator and adopting flexible eligibility criteria.

CONCLUSION

The WBC program appears acceptable and feasible. Future research should establish program effectiveness with larger and more diverse caregiver samples.