Involving service users in their mental health care: the CUES Project

Aims and Method To assess the impact of Carers' & Users' Expectations of Services –User version (CUES–U) upon clinical care planning in working age adults with mental health problems. Eighty-six individuals who were receiving input from the community mental health team gave their views. Results Life and service satisfaction ratings ranged from 49% to 88%. The CUES–U discussion led to a change in clinical care for 49% of respondents. Care coordinators rated CUES–U as a good use of their time in 64% of cases. Women and those with a shorter duration of mental disorder were rated as more engaged in the consultation process. Clinical Implications CUES–U appears to be a useful tool for supporting individual clinical care and the evaluation of community mental health services.