Mental Health Care Assessment

For confidentiality (NMC, 2008) purposes, patients’ real names will not be used.

Introduction

Within this essay, I will reflect and critically analyse an OSCE which has increased my awareness, or challenged my understanding, in assessing the holistic needs of a service user (John), referred by his GP, whilst incorporating a care plan using the Care Programme Approach (CPA). By utilising this programme and other sources of current literature, I hope to demonstrate my knowledge and understanding in relation to this skill as well as identifying areas with scope for learning.

In practice, there are other assessment tools such as….which I could have used but the CPA is a recommended National Standard Framework for Mental Health, introduced in 1991, to supply a framework for effective mental health care (DOH 1999; DOH 2008) and to safeguard all service users (SU) by appropriate assessment and review (Gamble, 2005). But it is time consuming, in practice and paperwork. Service users’ participation has been repeatedly disappointing; studies constantly report little awareness of the CPA policy (CPAA, 2006; McDermott, 1998).

Analysis/Discussion

The literature regarding assessment, communication and interpersonal skills is vast and extensive. Upon reading a small amount of the vast literature available, the student was able to analyse the OSCE and look at how badly this situation was handled. However, although I felt at the time that I did not communicate effectively (due to anxiety), it was found on reflection and reading literature that I did do something positive.

Environment

There was a good choice of room, as physical environment is very important and should not be overlooked. We were placed approximately 20 inches apart diag...

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