A User-focused Evaluation of IAPT services in London

Man shouting through a megaphone A user-focused evaluation aims to reflect the priorities, needs and perceptions of people using services by putting their voice at the centre of the project. This evaluation looked at people's experiences of using IAPT services in London. It also helped to develop a model for conducting user-focused evaluations that can be applied more widely.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is an initiative which aims to provide talking therapies to more people with common mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

The team of researchers working on this project included people with experience of using mental health services and of carrying out user-focused research. We worked with an Expert Advisory Panel made up of people who have used IAPT services themselves and who steered the project throughout.

The evaluation used a variety of methods to capture the views of over 100 service users, as well as in-depth information about some individuals’ experiences with the services. The evaluation looked at what aspects of the services were helpful and which acted as barriers to receiving talking therapy.

The findings of the study provided a range of recommendations for improving the experience of using IAPT services. Among these is a need to provide a service which responds to individual's needs around access and the therapeutic relationship itself. Concrete examples of good and bad practice demonstrate how IAPT services can be 'person-centred', even while delivering a standard service model.

Full details of our findings and recommendations can be found in the report below. The report also reflects on the process of placing service users at the centre of an evaluation. We describe the advantages and challenges for all of those involved in the project and we hope this project will provide a model for future user-focused evaluations.

If you would like more information about this project, contact Sarah Hamilton.

Final report

IAPT report final (2107 kb)