15 steps

[Rod Whiteley]

I've been asked to evaluate an NHS initiative called "The Fifteen Steps Challenge". It's already in use in acute medical wards, and now it's been adapted for mental health. The idea is that if you visit a psychiatric ward, within fifteen steps you get a clear sense of what kind of a place it is, and how good the care is there. Can anyone give me any tips on how to evaluate the programme?

My own feeling is that it's nonsense. True, someone who has been admitted several times before can probably tell pretty quickly what a ward is going to be like, but this is a "challenge team" wandering around the place with clipboards for a quarter of an hour. Can they tell what the ward is like for patients? I have my doubts.

[DizzyPrincess]

Hi if i was evaluating a place i would look for cleanliness, what the clients are doing?, staff/client interaction, how the clients are appearance/ mood. What information is on display for example activities/groups/classes for clients to attend. How you are greeted by staff? If they are all friendly (overfriendly putting on a show). Dunno if this is of any help?

[Rod Whiteley]

Yes, thank you, that's helpful. This kind of audit tends to focus on cleanliness and noticeboards, but I agree with you that interaction and mood are important too.