This was an NHS R&D funded project which
aimed to assess the characteristics and needs of all those people
with functional mental illness in residential accommodation in
eight districts. The principal question addressed the extent to
which these residents were appropriately placed. The project
involved the assessment of residents in NHS, local authority and
voluntary/private accommodation and the facilities available to
them.
The project was completed in March 1995 and led to
the development of a new classification of facilities which allowed
comparisons of provision in different districts. A methodology to
enable a national census of residential accommodation for people
who have mental health problems was also developed. The College
Research Unit and the CEMH have examined local provision via census
days.
Articles relating to the project were published in
the specialist mental health press.