title: Outcomes from personal budgets in mental health: service users' experiences in three English local authorities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In England, personal budgets are offered to eligible people with severe mental health problems to enable them to purchase what is helpful for their quality of life or recovery. However, in-depth insight into people's own perceptions of the outcomes is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate people's own reporting of outcomes from using personal budgets in relation to social care needs arising from severe mental health problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 47 individuals receiving personal budgets was recruited from three English local authorities. In-depth semi-structured interviews were subject to thematic framework analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants identified positive outcomes across domains interconnected through individual life circumstances, with mental health and wellbeing, social participation and relationships, and confidence and skills most commonly reported. Some needed more support than others to identify goals and make use of the personal budget to take a more active part in the society.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personal budgets can enable people to achieve outcomes that are relevant to them in the context of their lives, particularly through enhancing their wellbeing and social participation. Consideration should be given to distinguishing those individuals potentially requiring more support for engagement from those who can engage more independently to identify and pursue their goals.
authors.affiliation: a Drinkaware, Salisbury House , London , UK .
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Applied Social Studies, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston , Birmingham , UK .
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tew
authors.affiliation: c The McPin Foundation , London , UK .
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: d Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London, Virginia Wolf Building, Kingsway , London , UK , and.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manthorpe
authors.affiliation: c The McPin Foundation , London , UK .
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pinfold
authors.affiliation: e Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Academic Unit, Newham Centre for Mental Health , London , UK.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szymczynska
authors.affiliation: c The McPin Foundation , London , UK .
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Clewett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D058992:Social Participation; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Personal budget; mental health; outcomes; personalisation; recovery; service user experience