Care planning in mental health settings (Chapter 8)

Key principles guide this chapter. First is that IDN like all nurses provide care via a process that involves five interrelated aspects, as detailed in Figure 1. Secondly, some view a care plan as commencing following an assessment, however here care-planning involves all five of these aspects from assessment through to evaluation (and reassessment as and when required). The third key principle is that the plan of care aspires to a ‘person-centred’ approach (as can be seen in Figure 1) i.e. the ‘person’ is at the centre; carers are partners; the focus is on what is important for the person and requirements to achieve this; it is about ‘life’ planning; and it involves openness, learning and future action Sanderson (2002). Person centred planning is a core element within Valuing People (DoH 2001). Fourthly, we do not present any one model or framework to guide care here as it is our belief, in keeping with the view of Aldridge (2004), that the nature of intellectual disability is so dynamic and multi-dimensional that no one theory or model can ‘fit all’ care. We therefore present a number of frameworks that have value when used eclectically in care delivery, this eclectic perspective is in recognition of the need for a multi-disciplinary care. Finally, while we do present a number of frameworks we emphasise a ‘humanist’ approach is essential and that ‘therapeutic care’ should be the cornerstone of nurses’ work with people who have mental health problems. Watkins (2001, 5) states ‘a phenomenological view of man does not try to impose any theoretical construct… but seeks to make sense of distressing and disturbing behaviour… in so doing it unshackles differentness from pathology’.