Identity, power, and authenticity: a qualitative case study exploring the experiences of staff with lived experience of mental health problems within a UK mental health trust
Publication Date
July 16, 2024
Creator
Abstract
The National Health Service (NHS) is expected to set a precedent for other UK organisations to follow in relation to addressing the health and wellbeing needs of its staff. However, most NHS organisations are facing unprecedented financial and employment challenges, predominantly due to a surge in demand for services and a shortage of personnel and resources. This results in a high-stress environment where employees are constantly working at maximum capacity and grappling to meet patient needs. As a consequence, rates of mental ill health among the workforce are alarmingly high, with burnout and exhaustion being significant factors.
While it is important that organisations prioritise the mental health and wellbeing needs of their workforce, especially at a time when the risks of poor mental health are high, it is crucial to acknowledge the paradigmatic shift highlighted in this thesis. Clinicians, as a consequence of their lived experience of mental health problems, can and do add significant value to their organisation by enhancing patient care and challenging cultural norms. However, they require support in order to fulfil their role and maintain their own wellbeing. This study is particularly interested in the lived experience narratives of clinicians with severe and enduring mental health problems working in a UK mental health trust. Glen Forest claims to value lived experience as part of its broader cultural approach, and this research aims to understand how these clinicians are empowered to utilise their experience to improve patient care.
This thesis adopts a qualitative case study methodology to challenge the dominant narrative, by giving prominence to the voices of individuals who have both professional experience and personal lived experience of mental health problems. It accomplishes this through interviews with 24 policy makers, 12 clinicians with lived experience, and a focus group of Peer Support Workers. The research explores how societal stigma and organisational policies impact these individuals, shaping their identity, influencing power dynamics, affecting their sense of value and belonging in the workplace, and ultimately impacting patient care. Additionally, the study investigates the specific challenges faced by staff with lived experience and emphasises the potential for their happiness and productivity as employees when provided with appropriate and timely support.
The findings of this study clearly indicate that the case study organisation falls short of the necessary criteria to be considered an Exemplar Employer, since employees with lived experience are forced to hide their true identities and disregard their personal experiences. From an organisational development standpoint, it is crucial to analyse the work environment of clinical staff with experience of severe and enduring mental health problems. This analysis carries important implications for shaping mental health trust policies, education, and guidance, and holds the power to influence other NHS trusts and employers in the health and social care sector.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
PhD
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
School of Health Sciences
eprints ID
77852
UoN Repository URI
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Conchar, Catherine F.14156487 Corrections Updated.pdf
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Full-text
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Examined. Conchar, Catherine F.14156487 Corrections Updated
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12.64 MB
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