Staff perceptions of factors affecting the use of RAS-DS to support collaborative mental health practice

Abstract

Background The Recovery Assessment Scale: Domains and Stages (RAS-DS) is designed as both a recovery outcome measure and a tool to enhance service-user control over their recovery journey. While extensively and globally used in mental health services for the former purpose, routine use for the latter purpose is yet to be realised. The aim of this study was to identify barriers, facilitators and additional supports needed for use of RAS-DS to support service user participation, goal setting and recovery action planning.Methods An online survey was conducted of mental health workers who had engaged with RAS-DS, including fixed choice and open-ended questions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and interpretive content analysis respectively.Results The 65 respondents reported more frequent use of RAS-DS as an outcome measure than as a collaboration tool and more than half reported difficulties in using it in this way. Factors that they described as influencing the use of RAS-DS as a tool for collaboration and support were previous experiences with RAS-DS, organisational supports and policies, awareness of the RAS-DS amongst colleagues; RAS-DS related training and support; staff time and capacity; the format of the RAS-DS; the service user population or context; and respondents’ own active efforts.Conclusions Extending the use of RAS-DS, an already widely used tool, to routinely support recovery-oriented practice has benefits of efficiency and service user empowerment. However further work is needed to enable this, including: provision of co-designed, accessible training resources; a user platform including built in guidance; and strategies to promote management understanding and valuing of the opportunities inherent in RAS-DS for enhanced service delivery.