Assessment
All clients for whom a Spectrum treatment service is being considered will have an assessment. In addition, an Area Mental Health Service may request an assessment in order to shed light on diagnoses, gain a more in depth understanding of the person, and guide services in the development of a thorough and well-suited treatment plan.The assessment usually commences after some initial clarification and discussion through secondary consultation with staff from the area mental health service. Assessments can vary in terms of the time commitment required of the client and service, and the amount of information needing to be gathered. The best results occur when the Spectrum assessing clinician has permission to access all relevant information, such as hospital clinical files, and can speak to all professionals involved. It is also very helpful for the client to give permission to contact important people in their life, such as close family members. Various parts of the assessment may take place at different locations.
In some cases, the client will be offered specialist assessments such as psychological testing, in order to clarify diagnoses, and build a detailed picture of the nature of their strengths and difficulties.
In summary, the assessment is comprehensive and may include:
- Clinical interviews with the client
- A file search
- Interviews with all relevant professionals
- Discussions with family members
- Case conferences
- Specialist testing as clinically indicated
In the course of an assessment, the need for a second opinion may arise. Spectrum clinicians are able to provide second opinions for clients whose diagnosis and formulation are particularly complex and contentious.
Once an assessment is completed, the client and their usual treating service are provided with detailed feedback about the outcome and recommendations.