FAQs

NOCC Overview

What are outcome measures?

The introduction of outcome measures is part of a national initiative attempting to measure whether a change has occurred for a consumer as a result of mental health care. Using a range of clinician-rated and consumer-rated measures, collectively known as the National Outcomes and Casemix Collection, the consumer and the clinician can map the journey of recovery over time. The information collected can also be used to help mental health services plan for improvements in service delivery.

What are the measures that are included in the National Outcomes and Casemix Collection?

The measures that comprise the National Outcomes and Casemix Collection are:

• Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS);
  
• Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA);
  
• Health of the Nation Outcome Scales 65+ (HoNOS65+);
  
• Life Skills Profile 16 (LSP-16);
  
• Resource Utilisation Groups – Activities of Daily Living Scale (RUG-ADL);
  
• Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS);
  
• Mental Health Inventory (MHI);
  
• Behaviour and Symptom Identification Scale 32 (BASIS-32®);
  
• Kessler-10 Plus (K-10+);
  
• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
  
• Factors Influencing Health Status (FIHS); and
  
• Focus of Care (FOC).

Why is it important to use outcome measurement?

Outcome measures contribute to the development of clinical practice, aiming to improve the quality of care for consumers of Australia’s public sector mental health services. Outcome measures can assist consumers in considering options for their care and treatment and support the development of a therapeutic relationship between the clinician and the consumer. The measures can also be used by clinicians to monitor the progress of the consumer, evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and thereby provide information that will assist decisions about clinical practices. The outcome measures can also be used by team leaders and service managers to better understand the needs of their consumers, to plan for the allocation of resources and to identify where service improvements are required.

By using a range of outcome measures, consumers and clinicians can work together to map the journey of recovery over time.