Abstract
Background
Increasing numbers of young people are living with long-term health conditions and there is evidence that they experience poorer psycho-social and educational outcomes than their healthy peers. The years between 11 and 25 can be a time of sub-optimal self-management, service disengagement and deteriorating health outcomes. However, services can struggle to provide appropriate support to ameliorate this situation. In the UK, youth workers have been introduced into healthcare and other settings to improve the support of young people with long-term health conditions but there is a lack of information about these services and their role with this group of young people. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by describing the characteristics of youth work services targeted at young people with long-term physical and/or mental health conditions.
Methods
Data about service characteristics were collected using a cross-sectional, online survey distributed via key organisations, networks and social media. This was supplemented by online searching to identify additional services. The data were analysed descriptively using SPSS.
Results
In total, 188 services met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. There appears to be considerable variation in services in terms of their organisation, funding, size, and the specific groups of young people they support. Most services were targeted at young people who experience a physical health condition with far fewer targeted at young people who experience mental health difficulties. A small number of youth work services worked across physical and mental health services. Youth worker roles included emotional support, self-management support, service transition support, and advocacy. Services worked in a range of settings including hospitals, communities and schools/colleges.
Conclusion
This study contributes to knowledge by describing the characteristics of youth work services for young people with long-term physical and/or mental health conditions. Further research is now needed to understand how these services (and their characteristics) influence young people’s engagement and wellbeing and how youth work services work with the multi-disciplinary team and wider service system.
Increasing numbers of young people are living with long-term health conditions and there is evidence that they experience poorer psycho-social and educational outcomes than their healthy peers. The years between 11 and 25 can be a time of sub-optimal self-management, service disengagement and deteriorating health outcomes. However, services can struggle to provide appropriate support to ameliorate this situation. In the UK, youth workers have been introduced into healthcare and other settings to improve the support of young people with long-term health conditions but there is a lack of information about these services and their role with this group of young people. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by describing the characteristics of youth work services targeted at young people with long-term physical and/or mental health conditions.
Methods
Data about service characteristics were collected using a cross-sectional, online survey distributed via key organisations, networks and social media. This was supplemented by online searching to identify additional services. The data were analysed descriptively using SPSS.
Results
In total, 188 services met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. There appears to be considerable variation in services in terms of their organisation, funding, size, and the specific groups of young people they support. Most services were targeted at young people who experience a physical health condition with far fewer targeted at young people who experience mental health difficulties. A small number of youth work services worked across physical and mental health services. Youth worker roles included emotional support, self-management support, service transition support, and advocacy. Services worked in a range of settings including hospitals, communities and schools/colleges.
Conclusion
This study contributes to knowledge by describing the characteristics of youth work services for young people with long-term physical and/or mental health conditions. Further research is now needed to understand how these services (and their characteristics) influence young people’s engagement and wellbeing and how youth work services work with the multi-disciplinary team and wider service system.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | BMC Health Services Research |
| Early online date | 21 Feb 2026 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 21 Feb 2026 |
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Keywords
- Service mapping
- Children
- Young people
- Long-term health conditions
- Mental health
- Youth work
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