A client-centred assessment of need needs assessment

This paper overviews needs-assessment as a recent legislative requirement in adult mental health services in the United Kingdom. The aim of the paper is to highlight and familiarise those people working in the area of adult mental health with the theories, concepts and methodologies of needs-assessment. To do this the paper outlines the guiding principles and practices in the conceptualisation, development and implementation of needs-assessment in mental health - with special reference to the long-term mentally ill. The paper goes on to explore how needs-assessment has the potential to influence individual psychiatric practice in relation to users, providers, planners and the purchasers of mental health services. Finally, the paper calls for empirical evidence and the standardised evaluation of the assessment of need for the long-term mentally ill. The paper concludes by highlighting the possible opportunities offered by needs-assessment, especially client-centred needs-assessment, in relation to the care, support, and treatment of the long-term mentally ill.