Why you should read this article:

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To learn about the development of a new community enhanced rehabilitation team during the COVID-19 pandemic

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To understand staff and service users’ experiences of a new community enhanced rehabilitation team

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To recognise the importance of a smooth transition process between inpatient and community mental health settings

Mental healthcare services have undergone significant changes since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust one such change has been the development of a community enhanced rehabilitation team, to support service users who had experienced quicker discharge from inpatient rehabilitation services due to pandemic-related measures with transition into the community.

This article reports the findings of a service evaluation which explored the experiences of service users and staff after the team had been operational for 12 months. Six service users and five staff members participated in individual semi-structured interviews which, following thematic analysis, generated seven themes: developing staff competency; doing ‘proper rehab work’; managing anxiety and crisis; good teamwork; mode of working; joining up the pathway; and ideas for the future. The service evaluation supports the continued use of small caseloads to maintain effective rehabilitation care. Further work is required to ensure smooth transition between inpatient and community rehabilitation services.