Care clusters in mental health and co‐production of care – towards a more lay friendly set of cluster descriptions
| Published date | 25 May 2012 |
| Pages | 79-83 |
| Date | 25 May 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301211232487 |
| Author | Sally Denham‐Vaughan,Michael Clark |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Care clusters in mental health and
co-production of care – towards a more
lay friendly set of cluster descriptions
Sally Denham-Vaughan and Michael Clark
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to critically examine the care clusters descriptors now being introduced in
mental health care in England and to discuss them in the context of trying to further approaches to
co-production (and related concepts), and social inclusion and recovery.The paper seeks to introduce a
revised set of cluster descriptors that are more lay friendly and that, hence, would be likely to encourage
more service user engagement in care.
Design/methodology/approach – The care cluster descriptors are critically examined within the
context of desires to engage service users in care and encourage staff to explicitly consider individual
strengths as well as needs, i.e. co-production of care between active service users and providers.
Findings – The implementation of care clusters and the development of new organisations of care
based on these present opportunities to further develop in progressive ways how care is planned and
developed. The cluster descriptors, however, are not an ideal basis for this. Being designed for one
purpose the descriptors do not encourage thinking about individual strengths nor are they very lay
friendly. They are not seenas an ideal basis for more actively engaging individuals in the planning and
organisation of their care packages. Hence, revised descriptors felt to be more suited to this are
presented.
Practical implications – Furthering more recovery oriented and socially inclusive practice in mental
health care requires that each part of the system encourages all individuals involved to think in these
ways. As the starting point for thinking about care, it is essential that cluster descriptors also work in this
way. Services need to consider how the existing cluster descriptors impact on how individual care is
thought of and delivered and consider using revised ones for some purposes, especially for engaging
individuals in their care.
Originality/value – The care clusters being introduced in mental health care in England need to support
progressive developments in care. This is the first time the cluster descriptors have been critiqued from
the perspectives of recovery orientation and co-production.
Keywords Mental health, Care clusters, Payment by results, Co-production, Social inclusion, Recovery,
Mental health services, United Kingdom
Paper type General review
Introduction
This article examines the care cluster descriptors now being used in mental health care in
England (Department of Health (DH), 2011a, b), and explores whether they are optimal for
clinical use and service user engagement. The clusters are discussed in the context of
evolving policy and the practices of recovery-oriented care, personalisation, and co-
production. We are concerned with whether or not the current cluster descriptors offer the
building blocks of better outcomes for people to live well and be fully socially included.
Context
A model of grouping people who use mental health services into ‘‘care clusters’’ has been
developed and is now being widely used in England. There is a view that it will be the basis
DOI 10.1108/20428301211232487 VOL. 16 NO. 2 2012, pp. 79-83, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAGE 79
Sally Denham-Vaughan is
based at Worcester Health
and Care Trust,
Worcester, UK.
Michael Clark is based at
the London School of
Economics and Political
Science, London, UK.
The authors would like to
acknowledge the contribution
to this work of Alan Farmer,
Lynne Reep, Kevin Gittins,
Sarah Taylor and Claire Dyson.
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