Consumer measures and research co-production: a pilot study evaluating the recovery orientation of a mental health program collaboration

Abstract

A clinical service and a community-managed service have collaborated to deliver a service supporting people with severe and enduring mental illness and complex needs. This study aims to evaluate the recovery-orientation of the service by means of a consumer-led program evaluation utilising validated measures and qualitative interviews. The Recovery Self-Assessment (RSA) and the Recovery Enhancing Environment measure (REE) indicated that the things done well included goal setting and monitoring, practical assistance and encouragement. Things to improve were access to records; variety in treatment options; contributing to advisory boards; and support regarding sexuality, spirituality and relationships. Consumers interviewed peer-to-peer actively engaged with the evaluation.

Keywords::

• mental health
• recovery
• service user
• evaluation
• consumer

Acknowledgements

Thank you to those consumers provided with services under the AMHRI who agreed to be interviewed. Thank you to the Steering Committee. This research was in part made possible through the Department of Health, Victoria, Quality Innovation – Positive Culture and Leadership grant, 2010, that funded the involvement of the first author Senior Research Fellow during study design, ethics clearance and data collection in 2011.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Melissa Petrakis

Melissa Petrakis, Lecturer, Department of Social Work, Monash University, Australia, is a Senior Research Fellow in the Mental Health Service with St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne). She conducts program evaluations and qualitative research about service user experiences in the areas of suicide prevention, brief psychotherapy, early psychosis and dual diagnosis practice.

Lisa Brophy

Lisa Brophy, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia, is the Director of Research at Mind Australia (Mind). Research and evaluation at Mind is focused on recovery and social inclusion. She is currently engaged in projects on implementing recovery oriented practice, personalisation of mental health support and law and mental health.

Jayne Lewis

Jayne Lewis, Project Officer, St Vincent's Mental Health, Australia, managed the implementation of the Adult Mental Health Reform Initiatives within St Vincent's. She is now utilising her expertise in stakeholder engagement and public health change management as the Mental Health Act Implementation Project Officer at St Vincent's.

Michael Stylianou

Michael Stylianou, Consumer Consultant, Mind Australia, represents clients’ views on the Mind Research Reference Group, co-ordinates the Mind Consumer Reference Group, and contributes a client perspective to other ongoing projects at Mind.

Matthew Scott

Matthew Scott, Consumer Consultant, Mental Health Service, St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne), Australia, is a member of the Consumer Reference Committee and the Strengths Model Implementation Group at St Vincent's.

Nadine Cocks

Nadine Cocks, Consumer Consultant, Mind Australia, presents a client perspective on the Research and Evaluation Committee, Quality and Safety Council, and Adult Residential Control Group and other ongoing projects within Mind.

Liam Buckley

Liam Buckley, Consumer Consultant, St Vincent's Mental Health, Australia, is a member of the Consumer Reference Committee at St Vincent's and a contributor to new initiatives to enhance peer support in both inpatient settings and dual diagnosis.

Kieran Halloran

Kieran Halloran is currently managing the Partners in Recovery Initiative at the Northern Melbourne Medicare Local. Kieran previously worked at Mind Australia where he supervised the establishment of Mind's Care Coordination, Complex Care and Individual Packaged Services.