The mental health residential care study: classification of facilities and description of residents.
BACKGROUND
The NHS is no longer a virtual monopoly provider of mental health residential care. This makes it difficult to assess the volume, range and adequacy of local provision.


METHOD
Local data collectors used standard instruments to collect detailed information about 368 facilities (with 1951 residents) providing mental health residential care in eight districts. Because local definitions were inconsistent, facilities were reclassified on the basis of facility size and extent of day and night cover. The eight categories of accommodation are compared on levels of staffing, staff qualifications and the characteristics of their residents.


RESULTS
There was a nearly threefold variation between districts in the total number of residential places available per unit of population, and even greater variation in the number of places with 24-hour waking cover. Most residents have long-term, severe mental illness and severe impairment. Long-stay wards accommodate people who pose greater risk of violence than do the two types of non-hospital facility with 24-hour waking cover (P < 0.001). The former also employ a much greater proportion of staff with formal care qualifications and, in particular, nursing qualifications than the latter (49% v. 15%, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that one consequence of the diversification in provision of mental health residential accommodation has been a relative reduction in the proportion of provision available to the most severely disabled. This might apply particularly to those who pose a risk of acting violently.