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Protocol for assessing services for people with severe mental illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John Wing*
Affiliation:
College Research Unit, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
Susannah Rix
Affiliation:
College Research Unit, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
Roy H. Curtis
Affiliation:
College Research Unit, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
Paul Lelliott
Affiliation:
College Research Unit, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
Alan Beadsmoore
Affiliation:
The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, London
*
Susannah Rix, Health Advisory Service 2000. 5th Floor, 11 Grosvenor Crescent, London SWIX 7EE

Abstract

Background

The Clinical Standards Advisory Group was asked by UK health ministers to advise on the standards of clinical care being achieved for people with schizophrenia. A subcommittee commissioned a review of standards, followed by research into how far these were reflected in contracts and met by providers.

Method

No comprehensive but practical set of standards was found. A protocol of 143 items of good service practice was constructed, and applied by teams visiting services in 11 UK districts. The team appraisals were summarised in 20 key points, each scored 0 (absent) to 4 (excellent performance). Seven points were used to assess standards of commissioning and 13 for standards of service provision.

Results

When placed into rank order, the mean key point scores for commissioners and providers in the same district tended to be very similar. Total district scores were then used to assign districts to one of three groups. Four performed reasonably well, five were moderate and two were poor.

Conclusions

One of the key elements associated with these differences was the local level of morale. After wide consultation, a revised protocol of 26 key points for direct rating was drawn up and has since been further tested.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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