Making mental health service user involvement effective Eva Cyhlarova Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation Only charitable, independent, UK development agency in mental health and learning disabilities Few equivalent organisations worldwide Rich mix of activities Research and policy into practice vision across mental health and learning disabilities Mixture of client groups/audiences

Historical context Rapid development from radical ideology to contract specification Assumption that service user involvement is “a good thing” Consumer power is a limited analogy

Different roots Civil rights based v Consumerist Collective v Individual Separatist v Collaborative

Getting the basics right 1.Be clear about the purpose 2.Be clear about the limits of involvement 3.Communicate clearly and regularly

The tricky bits (i) Levels of involvement 1.Strategic 2.Operational 3.Personal

The tricky bits (ii) Effectiveness of involvement 1.Who – the people involved 2.What and how - the mechanisms and processes 3.Why – the impact of involvement

The tricky bits (ii) Key areas 1.Who – the people involved – Population – People using services – Population of people needing services – People who are involved

The use of community treatment orders: by ethnic group

The tricky bits (ii) Key areas 1.Who – the people involved 2.What and how - the mechanisms and processes

The tricky bits (ii) Key areas 1.Who – the people involved 2.What and how - the mechanisms and processes 3.Why – the impact of involvement – Who is involved – How are people involved – Does it achieve its aim

Characteristics of an indicator Measurable Auditable Meaningful Objective Effectively measure change over time Practical to implement

Involvement indicators WhoHowWhy PersonalMore people and greater diversity is better Ensure a good range of mechanisms Ensure clarity of purpose OperationalCheck for bias to or against particular groups (e.g. age, gender, race, diagnosis) Be aware of things that block particular groups or individuals Ensure everyone involved understands purpose and limits StrategicEnsure this is not the preserve of an elite Diversity in approaches leads to diversity in involvement Link involvement initiatives to observable outcomes

Long term objectives Changing the balance of power Knowing when people know best Helping them when they don’t

Count me in: Admission ratios by ethnic group

Contact Details Dr Eva Cyhlarova Mental Health Foundation 9th Floor Sea Containers House 20 Upper Ground London SE1 9QB United Kingdom Tel: (020)