Evaluating the Life rooms social model of health for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

In late 2021, The Life Rooms was commissioned by Public Health Liverpool to deliver a community-based mental health prevention offer to support individuals and communities post COVID-19 pandemic. For a 12-month period, The Life Rooms’ services, including learning and social prescribing were delivered across a number of community sites in Liverpool including libraries, one stop shops and children’s centres. The evaluation sought to explore the impact of providing The Life Rooms service peripatetically in a series of strategically located community sites with a view to providing more effective services for the community and to develop The Life Rooms’ Social Model of Health. The evaluation employed a mixed methods approach comprising qualitative and quantitative data collected through service user surveys, case studies, interviews, a focus group, and the Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL-10) outcome measure. Audit data in the form of activity data and demographics were also collected and analysed. The ReQoL-10 outcome measure was completed by 50 service users, before and after accessing support from The Life Rooms. The questionnaire was completed by 75 service users, and 19 service users provided a case study. Three service users participated in a focus group and two service users participated in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. During the project 1,162 individuals registered with The Life Rooms via the Public Health sites. While the overall change in ReQoL-10 scores was not statistically significant, a significant improvement was observed among service users who accessed both elements of The Life Rooms offer—the Pathways Advice Service and the psychoeducational learning courses. Quantitative and qualitative findings indicated that many individuals experienced a broad range of benefits. Expanding the geographical footprint of The Life Rooms’ services and working peripatetically has allowed The Life Rooms and Public Health Liverpool to work with people across places, better tailoring services to meet their needs and preferences so that they are designed and delivered more effectively.