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Using service user and clinical opinion to develop the SAINT: a guided self-help pack for adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- CHAPLIN Eddie, CRAIG Tom, BOURAS Nick
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(1), 2012, pp.17-25.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Despite the greater prevalence of mental ill-health in people with intellectual disabilities compared to the general population, there has been little work specifically aimed at prevention, early detection and helping this group to cope with mental health problems. This study looked at the first stage of development of a guided self-help (GSH) pack called the Self Assessment and INTervention pack (SAINT). Delphi methods and focus groups were used to gather opinions from two groups: professionals or clinical experts (n=between 15 and 33 at different stages); and service users (n=9), to inform the contents of the SAINT. The Delphi was conducted by e-mail. Results from each round were shared between the two groups to develop a consensus. Both groups were able to reach a consensus of the items that would make up the SAINT. Delphi methods combined with focus groups were able generate the contents of the SAINT and demonstrated versatility in this dual approach. The perspectives of the groups differed. The clinical experts concentrated more on severe mental health problems whereas the service users talked more about vulnerability associated with everyday life. The next step will be to establish the reliability and validity of SAINT prior to pilot testing.
The consumer-employee as a member of a Mental Health Assertive Outreach Team: clinical and social outcomes
- Authors:
- CRAIG Tom, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), February 2004, pp.59-69.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The Health Service is among the largest employers in Britain and has the potential to provide supported work for significant numbers of people who have been long-term unemployed as a result of mental health problems. This investigates the feasibility and impact of employing mental health service users as health care assistants within an assertive outreach team. Forty-five clients of the assertive outreach team were randomly assigned to receive either standard case management (n =21) or to case management plus additional input from a consumeremployee (n =24) working as a health care assistant (HCA) to the team. Clients alllocated to the HCAs were more engaged with treatment as re ected in lower rates of non-attendance at appointments, higher levels of participation in structured social care activities and significantly fewer unmet needs in the domains of daytime activity, company, finances, transport and access to benefits. There were no differences between groups in terms of social networks (size or subjective quality) or in satisfaction with the service received. Employing service consumers in front-line caring roles is feasible and may contribute to improved client engagement with services.