ABSTRACT
This chapter helps readers to understand the need to choose the appropriate method of assessment to obtain accurate information to inform the care of the service user. It describes the key components of an initial mental health assessment. The chapter explains the difference between an assessment and a collaborative formulation. Interview schedules are a method of collecting information that is superior to questionnaires and rating scales, as they allow more flexibility on the part of the interviewer and therefore more exploration of the subject. This ensures that greater detail is gathered and therefore, hopefully, results in a better-informed assessment. In community settings, referrals to community mental health teams come from agencies such as general practitioners (GP), housing providers and inpatient units. In the case of GPs, often the purpose of these referrals is to request an assessment from mental health specialists so that advice on how best to support and treat their service users can be given.
