Systematic process and outcome evaluation of brief staff training in psychosocial interventions for severe mental...

This study evaluated systematically the integrity and effectiveness of a topical staff training programme. The integrity of the training was evaluated in terms of its adherence to the trainer's protocol, using an observational instrument. To assess effectiveness, multiple measures of learner satisfaction, learning, generalisation and impact were administered longitudinally to N = 45 multi-disciplinary mental health professionals in the UK. The integrity evaluation indicated that the training had been delivered appropriately. Significant effects of the training were obtained on the learning assessments (knowledge gain and skill enhancement) and on the generalisation measure. No adverse effects were found, and learner satisfaction was very favourable. The findings indicate that a brief in-service training programme can be delivered consistently and can foster good practice amongst mental health staff, leading to benefits for their clients.