Evaluation of Mental Health Personal Health Budgets

NDTi undertook a qualitative evaluation across sites participating in a national evaluation of Mental Health Personal Health Budgets.

NDTi worked with two sites (Hackney and Birmingham) to collect data from individual budget holders and staff in order to explore:

• the experience of staff in managing and supporting the delivery of PHBs
• the impact of receiving a PHB for budget holders

We took a realist evaluation approach in order to find out what works, for whom, why and in what circumstances. Experts by Experience worked with us to develop the topic guides for the interviews with staff and budget holders and to advise us on working flexibly and sensitively with individuals in the sites.

We graphically captured people’s journeys in terms of how the PHB has worked for them and what outcomes it has led to. These stories were shared via social media throughout the duration of the evaluation project.