An at-risk mental state service embedded within a UK Early Intervention team across two years of service delivery for service users 14 to 65 years: service audit

Background: Since national roll out in 2016, there has been little data available to assess service delivery for At-risk Mental State (ARMS) services embedded within UK Early Intervention Teams.Methods: An audit benchmarked a local ARMS service to assess compliance and service quality against UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) standards. Data were collected using an audit tool for all users accepted to an ARMS service over a two-year period.Results: Service standards complied 100% with two of the three relevant NICE standards and there was 95% compliance with the remaining standard. Weeks engaged in service, uptake of CBT (58%) and discharge rates to primary 15 and secondary services was evaluated. A transition rate of 19% to First Episode Psychosis was recorded within the sample. Further analysis investigated three separate age ranges categorised within the sample across standards.Conclusions: The evidence provided showed the service meets national stan- dards, allowing a good provision of care. However, limitations were found in the interpretation of national standards, ability to meet the needs of all service users meeting criteria for ARMS services and service efficiency. The findings also lend themselves to wider conversations around the concept of ARMS services.