Evidence Library

Abstract:

Aims: To compare the process and outcomes of two different approaches to engaging mental health service users in the quality assurance (QA) process. QA involves service users in evaluation and service development.

Methods: The author reviewed the documents from two QA reviews of the mental health day centre including the survey tools, service user responses and final reports. One was a traditional inspection carried out in 1998 and the other was a collaborative project with a user-led QA agenda carried out in 2000.

Findings/recommendations: The first QA process had less ownership from service users and staff and simply demonstrated that the services met required standards. The second focused on different priorities, developed a new approach to seeking users' views and achieved a higher response rate.  Because staff and users had worked together on the second review, they were more willing to work in partnership to implement the action plan to improve the service.

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Related entry: none currently available

Categories: health
social care
Identifying topics, prioritising and commissioning
Designing research
impact on research
impact on implementation and change
impact of public involvement
journal article
Implementation and change

Date Entered: 2009/01/28

Date Edited: 2012/11/20