Publications
Welcome to the Imroc Publications section. Everything we do is grounded in lived experience and informed by evidence - drawing on best practice, evaluation, and research. Here, you’ll find a free and accessible collection of thought leadership pieces, research papers, and briefing documents that support recovery-oriented mental health services. Our resources are designed to benefit those living with, working in, or commissioning mental health care. We focus on quality, collaboration, and real-world impact. Browse our publications below to gain insights, share learning, and support transformation in practice.
New Demystifying Research Series
31.Co-production Across Borders: History, Practices, and Directions for Building Partnerships in Mental Health
Briefing Paper 31 examines how co-production works in practice across mental health education, commissioning and research. Written by a team with lived and learned expertise from the UK and Canada, it traces the history of co-production from Arnstein's Ladder of Participation to the present, dispels three common myths, and shares three case studies — eating disorder workshops at SLaM Recovery College, the recommissioning of crisis services in the South West of England, and a co-produced five-year research agenda at CAMH. It closes with key strategies for teams and a call to organisational and systemic decision makers.
29. Employing Peer Workers in Learning Disability Services
This briefing paper explores how peer support workers (people who are employed to use their lived experience to offer supportive relationships with people using health services) might be introduced into Learning Disability (LD) services. In the last decade or so, we have learnt a great deal about peer support in mental health services, and the evidence base for these roles has grown, alongside a collective acknowledgement of their importance in services. However, the spotlight in this service area has left others in the dark.
Briefing Papers
Provide comprehensive overviews and best practices around current topics of interest. They include detailed evidence, policy context, best practice guidance, and personal narratives to support the implementation of best practices.
Position Papers
Articulate our stance on particular issues, illustrating how our values are enacted in various contexts.
Sharing Experience Papers
Raise awareness about specific issues where no resolution currently exists. They offer an introduction to the topic, current challenges, and recommendations for next steps, often incorporating anecdotal evidence and accounts from individuals close to the topic.
Examples of Service Evaluations
We know that many services have found it difficult to evaluate innovative ways of working such as recovery colleges and peer support. Because of this, we will endeavour to collect examples of service evaluations that might show what is possible in terms of methods and reports.
While we have led on service evaluations on behalf of other organisations, many of these evaluations have not been led by Imroc. Our aim is to provide a platform for these so that others may take learning from them. If you would like support with evaluating any elements of your organisation/service, please get in touch.
Tools and Vision Papers
Practical guides and visionary documents offer tools, frameworks, and future directions for developing and implementing best practices. They help stakeholders understand and apply recovery principles in their work, ensuring a cohesive and forward-thinking approach.