This is the first study conducted in Australia to survey high support, very high support and residential rehabilitation services on a state- wide basis. In addition, the project assessed the needs, satisfaction and level of functioning of consumers residing in a sample of such services throughout NSW. The project was funded by the Centre for Mental Health and carried out by Aftercare, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) providing accommodation and support to people with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities.
A total of 41 high support, very high support and residential rehabilitation services participated in the project; 95% of all such facilities in NSW. Need assessments were conducted with 1 65 consumers from 26 of these services. This represents 1 4% of all mental health consumers receiving high support, very high support and community-based, residential rehabilitation in the Financial Year ending June 2002. Key features of the project are as follows:
- An extensive literature review was undertaken and key conceptual models of accommodation support for mental health consumers with high needs were identified. This information was extended by investigating service and practice models operating in both NSW and interstate, in the field of mental health and also for people from other disability groups.
- A survey was sent out to all accommodation services in NSW which met NSW Health's definition of high support, very high support or residential rehabilitation. Information was collected regarding property management, funding, consumer participation, types of support provided, links with other services, evaluation methods, consumer demographics, and staffing.
- A random sample of individuals living at these services were interviewed using the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN); an instrument that measures consumers' views of both met and unmet needs in 22 domains. In addition, several open-ended questions were asked and each consumer's key worker completed a Life Skills Profile-16 (LSP-16) to provide an assessment of functioning.
- Consultations were held with consumers, inter-state service providers and representatives from key community agencies in order to place the information described above into context.