Needs assessment for mentally disordered offenders is different

The assessment of need is an accepted component of modern health service planning and delivery (Butler, 1992) and is a concept central to UK government health policy.It is recognized as important for both the commissioning of health services (population needs assessment) and good clinical practice (individual needs assessment) (Cohen and Eastman, 2000). The NHS management executive (1991) went further and incorporated the ability to benefit as an essential component of a model of need. The conclusion was that interventions with no proven efficacy should not attract resources.