ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a discussion of some of the background issues relating to consistency, including: a definition of what is meant by inconsistency; a consideration of the ground rules which should apply for such comparisons to be valid; and a presentation of the means for measuring consistency. It focuses on issues of consistency relating to the detection and measurement of client problems. By investigating possible reasons for inconsistency, valuable insight can be obtained into the mechanisms leading users, carers or care managers to present different responses. Evaluating Care for Elderly People (ECCEP) analysis of consistency also examined agreement between users and care managers regarding mental health, for which users were interviewed using standard scales, while care managers gave an overall judgement of the presence of the disorders: cognitive impairment, depression or low morale. The chapter concludes with a discussion and conclusion examining the implications of findings for both policy and practice.
