Service users’ experiences of the remote delivery of psychology assessments and interventions in the community

This article details a service evaluation conducted in a community team for people with learning disabilities at one NHS trust in England to explore service users’ experiences of remote delivery of psychological input during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The team’s psychologists had provided assessments and interventions to service users via telephone or video calls. A retrospective survey was conducted to determine whether remote input was acceptable, effective and could remain an option for the future.Thirty three service users who had directly or indirectly received individual remote psychological input completed the survey, often with support from a carer. Most reported positive experiences, including in terms of privacy, feeling heard and using technology. However, most respondents expressed a preference for face-to-face sessions. The findings suggest that the remote delivery of psychological input can be a feasible and acceptable option for service users who have a learning disability, but that face-to-face appointments should remain the primary method of input offered.