Exam (elaborations) Mental Health Assessment Tools

The Mental Health Commission (2005) specifies the importance of individualised care planning as one of the key aspects of holistic service delivery with each service user having an individual care and treatment plan that describes the levels of support and treatment required in line with his/her needs. Effective skills of assessment are fundamental to nurses working in the mental health setting (Curran and Rogers, 2004, Gamble & Brennan, 2006). The Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance (2008) advise that clinical effectiveness based on outcome/performance measurement, using evidenced based practice is a standard requirement in healthcare. Having validated assessments in nursing practice complies with this standard. This revised Portfolio of Assessment is the work of the Mental Health Assessment Review Group. The review has built on the first publication and taken account of audit results from the experience of using the tools in practice and relevant national and international literature. It is intended that any professional in the mental health services can utilise relevant and appropriate tools/scales from this portfolio. Effective care delivery relies on a comprehensive assessment being made. The use of validated assessment tools enhances assessment and can be incorporated into the management of patient/client care in a variety of ways. They can be useful LQ providing evidence for clinical decisions. They are also useful where potential risk is suspected and can be used to measure the level of risk. The use of validated assessment tools is crucial to providing documentary quantifiable evidence of patient/client state of health and determining the SDWLHQWFOLHQW¶V progress/difficulties with theLU plan of care. The Portfolio is presented in five sections outlining various components of care. These are: o Mental Health Screening Tools o Medication 5HODWHG Screening Tools o Alcohol/Drug Screening ToolV o Living Skills Screening Tools o Making sense of the assessment data. This guides users on how to incorporate information into practice using a Stress Vulnerability Framework from a psycho social model with strong emphasis on a recovery ethos with a useful guideline on integrating assessment data into the process of care. Each measuring tool/scale is accompanied by explanatory notes for guidance on use. Supporting literature is provided and all tools/scales are referenced. The portfolio is available to view and download from the HSE Lenus Library website: Mental Health Assessment Tools 6 The following are the Mental Health Assessment Tools Review Group: Mr. Michael Hyland, CNM1116W/RPDQ¶V+RVSLWDO0XOOLQJDU&R:HVWPHDWK Ms. Louise Johnson, PCLN, Mental Health Services, Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore 7XOODPRUH&R2IIDO (up to September 2010) Ms. Mary Kerrigan, CNM11, CMHC, Green Road, Mullingar&R:HVWPHDWK. Mr. Jim Maguire, Lecturer at Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, $WKORQH,QVWLWXWHRI7HFKQRORJ$WKORQH&R:HVWPHDWK . 0V&ODUH2¶&RQQRU, CNS, Department of Psychiatry, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise&R/DRLVH. 0U0LFN2¶+HKLU, ADON, Tullamore Sector Services, CMHC, Bury Quay, Tullamore&R2IIDO. Ms. Margaret Daly, Regional NPDC, Mental Health Services, Longford Westmeath Laois Offaly (Chair) 201 If further information or additional advice is required please contact the mental health assessment group via e-mail at: s@h