6294 Northwick and ealing outreach network (NEON) service evaluation: analysis of a youth worker outreach model for adolescent patients admitted to adult wards

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Objectives Evidence demonstrates that Adolescent in-patients are more likely to have an underlying social or deprivation issue related to their admission.¹ The Northwick and Ealing Outreach Network (NEON), inspired by the Kings Adolescent Outreach Service (KAOS) is a pilot youth worker outreach model aiming to tackle health inequity in 16– 24-year-old patients admitted to Adult wards at Northwick Park and Ealing Hospitals.¹ Youth workers offered eligible patients the opportunity for a comprehensive psychosocial assessment and carried out health promotion and community referrals if needed. A service evaluation was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the model in identifying and addressing unmet needs within this demographic, as well as addressing health inequities. Methods Quantitative data was obtained over eight months. Data was acquired for both the total number of patients offered an assessment and the subsequent count of those who consented for assessment. The study also gathered data on the quantity and nature of disclosures as proxy markers for unmet needs, along with the quantity and nature of signposts and referrals as proxy markers for addressing those needs. Additionally, ethnicity and IMD decile data were obtained. Qualitative data was acquired through semi-structured interviews with two clinical leads and one youth worker. Results 758 patients aged between 16 and 24–year who were admitted to Adult wards at Northwick Park and Ealing Hospitals were offered an assessment 520 consented to assessment (consent ratio 69%) During the 520 assessments, 435 new disclosures were identified 531 onward signposts and 182 onward referrals were made with the most common categories being mental health, employment, and education Ethnicity data was recorded for 646 cases. Of these patients, 521/646 (81%) were from ethnic minority groups with 341/521 (65%) of ethnic minority patients consenting for assessment Index of Multiple Deprivation rank data was obtained from 586 cases. Of these patients,363/586 (61%) patients were from IMD deciles 1–5 with 269/363 (75%) of patients from IMD 1–5 deciles consenting for assessment. Interviews highlighted positive experiences from clinicians and youth workers engaged in the service, expressing a shared belief that 'Improving young people's health is an important area often not focused on' Conclusion This data suggests that NEON is an effective model for identifying and addressing unmet needs within the studied group in this service evaluation. Additionally, the data indicates that the majority of patients offered an assessment belonged to an ethnic minority group or resided in IMD deciles 1–5. References Pickard, et al. Archives of Disease in Childhood 106.Suppl 1, 2021.