Avon Mental Health Measure A User Centred Approach To Assessing Need

1. Avon Mental Health MeasureA User Centred Approach To Assessing Need

3. Avon Mental Health Measure History The aims were to design a tool which enabled self assessment, provided a common language and provided information. Designed in the Bristol and Avon area. Representation from voluntary organisations, service users, carers, advocacy services and statutory organisations formed the working group. Informed by research from Bristol University and Bristol Heath Care NHS Trust Clinical Psychology services. Scottish 700 study (1999) � user defined validation. Copies available from MIND, London

4. Avon Mental Health Measure What is It? Is For use by service users, carers, care providers and professionals. User focused. Simple to use. Comprehensive holistic assessment. A needs assessment. An outcome measure. For use prior to reviews. Is Not A substitute for clinical and risk assessment. A substitute for clinical notes. A definitive assessment. A substitute for a minimum data set. A substitute for specific rating scales. A guarantee to fulfil unmet needs.

5. Avon Mental Health Measure Structure Divided into 5 tables. Several topics in each section, enabling people to examine 25 aspects of their lives. Uses a 5 point rating scale from A to E. Three of the tables ask to be rated on a good and a bad day. There is room for text at the end of each topic.

6. Avon Mental Health Measure Other Items

7. Avon Mental Health Measure What does it do for service users? Empowers individuals to become actively involved in their own care and support needs. Allows individuals to build up a picture of themselves which should help them gain more control of their lives. Using the measure at regular intervals enables users to compare how they are coping over time. It gives individuals a better understanding of themselves.

8. Avon Mental Health Measure What does it do for professional staff? Gives professionals a better understanding of users opinions and comments Informs professionals involved in the care process of a users wider needs (whether health or social). Is a valid and comprehensive basis for drawing up care plans, informing CPA, and care management process. Can stimulate accurate reporting of unmet need to service providers thus help provide better services in the long term

9. Avon Mental Health Measure Filling in the assessment When / Where / How? when a care plan meeting is being arranged on a home visit when settled into a ward if help is needed to fill in the measure, then a friend, relative or advocate can be used. the user should read through each row for each topic and decide which box best fits their situation. more explanation of the problem can be added as well as the help needed to change things.

10. Avon Mental Health Measure And SSOS All data will be anonymised by the project team before being processed. Only lettering from the tables is required to be recorded on the minimum data set. When a good and a bad day are asked for only the bad day should be recorded.