Empowered Together (coordinated social care in prison): A feasibility and definitive randomised controlled trial, with embedded realist informed process evaluation.

Empowered Together Background Social care relates to activities of daily living, social interaction, independence and activity in society. Men in prison in the UK have much higher levels of social care needs than men living in the community. As prison populations increase and age, this burden will increase. Prisons are difficult environments in which to meet social care needs. Many of these needs are not met despite a legal responsibility on Local Authorities to do so. This leaves men with poor quality of life and health and social outcomes. There is no evidence-based social care intervention in prison. We have co-produced a social care intervention named Empowered Together which aims to ensure men s social care needs are met in prison. Empowered Together involves trauma-informed, integrated, and person-centred care. It includes screening, assessment and care coordination across the complex systems in local authorities, prisons, healthcare, and third sector organisations.. Key Research Questions 1.Does Empowered Together improve the number of met social care needs of adult men in prison, who are at high risk of having unmet needs, after six weeks and six months, in comparison with care as usual? 2. Is it feasible to conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) (to answer research question 1)? 3. Is Empowered Together cost-effective? 4. What aspects of Empowered Together work well, in what contexts and why? Overarching Aims and Objectives Assess the feasibility of conducting a RCT of Empowered Together Evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Empowered Together in reducing the unmet social care needs of men in prison Explore what aspects of Empowered Together work, in what circumstances and why. Methods As part of a previous programme delivery grant (PDG) we conducted: A realist synthesis to develop the initial programme theory, logic model and intervention delivery platform for Empowered Together A systematic review of suitable outcome measures Development of patient, public involvement and engagement (PPIE) The proposed study builds on the work conducted in the PDG. It contains three work packages: WP1: Development of: training manual bespoke outcome measure fidelity scale immersive film, audio, blog, event and webpage WP2: Feasibility study/embedded formative process evaluation Feasibility RCT Cost-effectiveness feasibility Realist-informed formative process evaluation (including implementation fidelity) Review of progression criteria WP3: Definitive RCT and embedded summative process evaluation 3.1 Definitive RCT 3.2 Cost-effectiveness analysis 3.3 Realist-informed summative process evaluation (including implementation fidelity) 3.4 Development of future funding application to adapt Empowered Together for women Timelines for Delivery Months 0 – 12: Set up 0 – 6: WP 1 6 – 20: WP2 20 – 54: WP3 54 – 60: Impact and Dissemination Anticipated Impact and Dissemination A comprehensive dissemination strategy will be employed including an immersive film, prison radio/podcast/newspaper article, scientific papers/presentations, discussions with policy makers and an immersive event. We will improve the evidence base for and awareness of social care in prison. If effective, the intervention can improve social care and quality of life for thousands of men in prison in the future.