Aiming for Excellence in Mental Handicap Services

Abstract

Interest in the quality of services for people with a mental handicap has arisen from three main sources; administrative and financial monitoring, research, and humanitarian concern. Three related concepts are: quality of service, which equates roughly to structure; quality of care, which is a process‐oriented concept concerning the interaction of care staff and clients; and quality of life, which reflects the outcome of service provision and the views of consumers. In a literature review, the author distinguishes two methodological approaches: evaluation, which is a point‐in‐time measure; and monitoring, which is an ongoing process. Research findings on the three dimensions listed above are discussed in the context of these two methods; limitations and confusions are outlined, particularly in accreditation‐based systems. The importance of a total quality approach is stressed, combined with an emphasis on the effects of services on individual mentally handicapped people.

Citation

Dickens, P. (1990), "Aiming for Excellence in Mental Handicap Services", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 3 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526869010143817