Recovery Star
In 2007, The Mental Health Providers Forum started to develop a version of the 'Outcomes Star' for the mental health sector. The Recovery Star supports and measures changes when working with adults who are accessing mental health support services. The Recovery Star was developed as a measurement tool which will enable organisations such as Avenues to measure the progress being made by the person we support and the service being delivered.
The star covers 10 areas which addresses the personal journey of the person being supported.
Core dimensions of the Recovery Star
The Recovery Star identifies and measures ten core areas of life:
The Recovery Star is also an effective key working tool. It is designed to support individuals in understanding where they are in terms of their recovery and the progress they are making, providing both the individual and worker a shared language for discussion in regards to their mental health and wellbeing.
The Recovery Star helps to identify any difficulties people using our services are experiencing in each of these areas and how far they are towards addressing them and moving on.
Why should we do the recovery star?
- It is designed to develop, enhance and maintain the key worker relationship.
- Small steps can be seen as well as small positive changes.
- Early intervention (can identify issues which need attention).
- Improves mental wellbeing.
- Supports the individuals to be a part of their recovery.
- The Recovery Star is becoming more widely used and Commissioners and Care Managers becoming aware of the Star and the successes.
- It acts as an assessment tool.
Developing the Recovery Star
In April 2009, Avenues begun introducing the Recovery Star, working with individuals in a service in Rainham and within the West Kent Community Support services. This pilot consisted of two people we support from each setting, planning and developing their Recovery Stars with their key workers. Meetings have taken place and work has begun on developing individuals' stars. Updates will be ready to review in November 09.
Running the pilots
Over the past four months, managers, support staff and individuals have tested the Recovery Star and identified if and where we need to make the necessary changes. It has and will enable us to look at things closer and find out what works. It clarifies our outcomes - Are we achieving what we want? It also supports the people we support to measure the outcomes both with immediate visual effect and a supporting IT system provided by the Mental Health Providers Forum.
