Evaluation of the new Recovery Support Programme (RSP)

Background

Launched in July 2021, the Recovery Support Programme (RSP) is available to support Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS Foundation Trusts and NHS Trusts facing complex challenges, by providing intensive support to embed improvement and prevent further deterioration and enable stabilisation.

The RSP differs from the previous ‘Special Measures’ programmes in that it involves a system-level response that addresses all the key underlying concerns, while still providing tailored, intensive support to individual organisations.

The RSP provides tailored support to providers and systems with the toughest challenges, usually arising from deep-seated problems with governance, leadership, culture, workforce, estate and finance.

The programme has been designed to:

• focus at a system level while still supporting individual organisations;
• have a collaborative approach with the system;
• region and national intensive support teams;
• to provide sustainable capability within the system following exit from the programme.

An evaluation is required to understand the consequences of Recovery Support Programme introduction and its system lead approach.

What we are doing

Our aim is to undertake a rapid formative evaluation of the RSP to understand its initial impact and identify further improvements which can improve its efficacy.

We will conduct a multi-site, multiple methodologies study. We will conduct interviews with regional and national-level key informants who have delivered or are in receipt of RSP and conduct related documentary analysis in nine NHS case study sites.

Our research questions include:

1. What are the main elements of centrally delivered-support as part of RSP and is there variation across geography, systems and organisational types?
2. How do regional improvement teams coordinate and tailor support and is there variation across geography and organisational types?
3. What evidence is there that delivery of RSP is resulting in purposeful improvement to care delivery?