From research and development to practice-based evidence: clinical governance initiatives in a service for adults with mild intellectual disability and mental health needs.

BACKGROUND

Practice-based evidence represents the contribution of practitioners who utilize research methodologies to examine the quality of their clinical practice and service provision.

METHODS

The present paper describes the evolution of a routine practice-based evidence system (PBES) via four phases of research and development. The four phases are described, as is their relevance to assessment and intervention with regard to the mental health problems of people with mild intellectual disability. Phase four describes the development of a routine PBES.

RESULTS

The PBES is capable of profiling the individual mental health needs of service users and examining service effectiveness and quality at an organizational level.

CONCLUSIONS

The PBES is discussed according to its current utility and possible directions for future development. The system is presented as an example of clinical governance that could be utilized by multidisciplinary teams to develop and maintain an organizational culture of quality.