Developing and evaluating a new care pathway to improve outcomes for people with complex trauma (PATHWAY): mixed method development work leading to a programme of applied research

There is an increasing range of evidence-based treatments for complex trauma. Yet in practice, people using mental health services are unlikely to be assessed for trauma and experience considerable barriers to accessing appropriate care.

We are working with trauma survivors and mental health professionals in the NHS, and independent and grassroots sector to:

• develop an outcomes framework and logic model (to underpin future evaluation);
• establish a trauma-informed approach to conducting in-depth interviews about support for complex trauma; and,
• establish the acceptability of using electronic clinical records to track and evaluate complex trauma care pathways.

This work will help propose further research to evaluate new care pathways to improve outcomes for people with underlying complex trauma using mental health services.

We are engaging with policymakers at NHS London and NHS England to ensure that the outcomes of our research influences current policy initiatives aimed at improving access to appropriate care for survivors of violence and abuse.

City, University of London

East London Foundation NHS Trust

King’s College London

Survivors Voices