Exploring engagement and the usefulness of the AIM Cards with 'hard to reach' adolescents : hearing views and experiences from young people and clinicians

• Main Author: Carlile, J.
• Other Authors: Butler, S.
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2016
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.746257

Young people with complex mental health and social needs are considered 'hard to reach.' Engaging these young people is challenging and creativity is important when trying to offer support. The AMBIT AIM Cards have been developed as a collaborative assessment tool that covers a broad range of strengths and difficulties common amongst young people, and facilitates engagement with this challenging client group. Currently the cards are being used in some services but so far no research has explored their usefulness. This study aims to extend preliminary favourable reports by clinicians on the clinical utility of The AIM Cards by conducting qualitative interviews with young people and clinicians eliciting their opinions and experiences of the cards, and specifically their function as an assessment tool and a method for facilitating engagement. Audio-taped interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The results identify key strategies that clinicians can utilize to foster engagement with this client group, and the valuable contribution The AIM Cards make during the assessment and engagement process. The findings reported are the first empirical evidence that The AIM Cards can contribute to the assessment and engagement process by creating a structure which promotes a young person-led, goal orientated assessment which includes facilitating understanding and communication between young people and clinicians.