Quality standard

Quality statement 2: Assessment

Quality statement 2: Assessment

Quality statement

People in drug treatment are offered a comprehensive assessment.

Rationale

People with drug use disorders have a better chance of recovery, and of maintaining recovery in the longer term, if their resources for recovery are assessed and tailored advice and support is provided.

An assessment is intended to identify needs and determine appropriate interventions and the key resources available and needed to support recovery and prevent relapse.

Quality measure

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.

Process

Proportion of people in drug treatment who receive a comprehensive assessment.

Numerator – the number of people in the denominator receiving a comprehensive assessment.

Denominator – the number of people in drug treatment.

Data source: The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System collects data on all clients receiving specialist treatment for their problematic use of drugs; some aspects of the assessment of resources for recovery are collected, such as housing, employment and education.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers ensure systems are in place for people in drug treatment services to be offered a comprehensive assessment.

Healthcare professionals offer people in drug treatment a comprehensive assessment.

Commissioners ensure they commission services that offer people in drug treatment a comprehensive assessment.

People in drug treatment are offered a full assessment of their drug use and needs in relation to recovery.

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Comprehensive assessment

A comprehensive assessment should consider both drug use and resources for recovery and include:

  • identifying, and responding to, any emergency or acute problem

  • confirming the patient is taking psychoactive substances (based on history, examination and drug testing, and clinical records)

  • identifying the degree of problem use or dependence

  • identifying physical and mental health problems

  • identifying social problems, including problems in personal relationships and of social integration (including domestic violence and abuse), family, housing and living arrangements, education, employment, benefits and financial problems, childcare issues, criminal involvement, offending and other legal issues

  • assessing the family history for substance use and dependence and relevant medical, psychiatric or psychosocial factors

  • determining the patient's understanding of treatment options and motivation for change

  • exploring and identifying strengths

  • determining any need for substitute medication or other prescribing for dependence

  • assessing risk behaviours, including those associated with injecting (for drug-misusing parents or other adults with dependent children, obtaining information on the children and any drug-related risks to which they may be exposed)

  • with young people, assessing competency to consent to treatment (if required) and involving those with parental responsibility as appropriate

[Department of Health and Social Care's guideline on drug misuse and dependence, paragraph 2.2.2.3]

Equality and diversity considerations

All assessments should be accessible to people with additional needs such as physical, sensory or learning disabilities, and to people who do not speak or read English. People who need a comprehensive assessment should have access to an interpreter or advocate if needed.