scholarly journals The use of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) to inform discharge and transfer decisions in community mental health services

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Prowse ◽  
Tim Coombs
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Term Care

Discharge from public community mental health services has proven difficult for mental health workers and managers. Mental illness can often be long term, with ongoing disability, requiring a need for corresponding long-term care. Community mental health services are now becoming recovery focused and are recognising the need for alternative management arrangements for individuals with long-term care needs. There are, however few tools to assist in the decision making about discharge or transfer of care between community mental health teams. This article describes a quality improvement project to develop a flag for mental health workers to prompt decisions regarding discharge and transfer using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). Relevant literature and HoNOS data collected as part of routine clinical practice were reviewed to develop the flag. The implementation process is described along with plans for future developments.

The Social Contact Group: An Example of Long-Term Group Work in Community Mental Health Care

1995 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 214-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Group Leaders ◽  
Day Services

Social contact groups offer support and social activities to long-term users of community mental health services. In this study, seven groups in Surrey were compared with 10 groups elsewhere, using information supplied by group leaders. From this comparison, those features that characterise social contact groups have been identified. In addition, those individuals attending the groups in Surrey were invited to identify the benefits of membership. Their positive response indicated the success of these groups in meeting their need for social contact and suggests that this approach should be considered by those developing day services for people with long-term needs. Occupational therapists, with their expertise in analysing and coordinating activities, have a major role to play in organising these groups in conjunction with other mental health workers.

scholarly journals Optimizing mental health in long-term care homes

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1023-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Conn ◽  
John Snowdon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Discussion Groups ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
High Prevalence

The high prevalence of mental disorders among residents of long-term care (LTC) homes is highlighted in the paper by Seitz et al. in this special issue of International Psychogeriatrics. The International Psychogeriatric Association's Task Force on Mental Health Services in LTC Homes was formed in 2005 with two goals: (1) to gather information and share views from diverse countries and settings about how best to restore or ensure good mental health in LTC settings; and (2) to support and strengthen mental health services in the LTC sector. Since its formation, groups of members of the Task Force have visited residential facilities in Stockholm, Lisbon, Istanbul, Osaka, Dublin, Montreal and the Netherlands. Members have also reported on visits to LTC homes in the U.S.A., U.K., Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Nigeria. Further visits have been arranged during the IPA's meeting in Spain in September 2010. Information has also been provided by members in discussion groups and in response to a Task Force survey about facilities in various other countries.

Bilingual Professionals in Community Mental Health Services

1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny Mitchell ◽  
Abd Malak ◽  
David Small
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Health Services ◽  
Clinical Service ◽  
Service Development

Objective: This paper presents results from research that explored the roles of bilingual professionals in community mental health services in the Sydney metropolitan area of New South Wales. There were two main objectives to the research: (i) to identify and describe the roles of bilingual professionals that are important in improving the quality of community mental health services for clients from non-English-speaking backgrounds (NESB); and (ii) to identify and describe the factors that facilitate and inhibit the conduct of these roles. Method: Data collection involved indepth interviews with bilingual professionals and team leaders in community mental health services and various other community health services; and various staff responsible for policy and service development with regard to cultural diversity. Results: Bilingual mental health workers were found to have at least four critical roles. These were (i) direct clinical service provision to NESB clients; (ii) mental health promotion and community development; (iii) cultural consultancy; and (iv) service development. Respondents reported that the latter three roles were seriously underdeveloped compared to the clinical service provision role. Conclusions: It is critical that service managers implement strategies to make better use of the linguistic and cultural skills of bilingual professionals. In addition to their role in clinical service provision ways must be found to facilitate the community-focused, cultural consultancy and service development roles of bilingual professionals employed in mental health services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document