The Mental Health Clustering Tool is a type of ASSESSMENT TOOL.

The Mental Health Clustering Tool is a needs assessment tool designed to rate the care needs of a PATIENT, based upon a series of 18 rating scales.

The first 12 of these rating scales are the same as the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (Working Age Adults) rating scales, originally developed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. These 12 rating scales are numbered 1 - 12 under 'Current Ratings' in the Mental Health Clustering Tool.

One additional 'current' rating and a new section relating to historical ratings have also been added, to form the Mental Health Clustering Tool. These items are referred to as the Summary Assessment of Characteristics (SAC) items.

Part 1:  Current Ratings

These ratings relate to the most severe occurrence in the two weeks prior to the Mental Health Clustering Tool ASSESSMENT TOOL COMPLETION DATE.

1. Overactive, aggressive, disruptive or agitated behaviour (current)
2. Non-accidental self injury (current)
3. Problem drinking or drug taking (current)
4. Cognitive problems (current)
5. Physical illness or disability problems (current)
6. Problems associated with hallucinations and delusions (current)
7. Problems with depressed mood (current)
8. Other mental and behavioural problems (current), qualified by specific disorders: and the alphabetical list of headings from the glossary:

•             A  Phobic
•             B  Anxiety
•             C  Obsessive-compulsive
•             D  Stress
•             E  Dissociative
•             F  Somatoform
•             G  Eating
•             H  Sleep
•             I  Sexual
•             J  Other

Part 2:  Historical Ratings

These ratings relate to problems that occur in an episodic or unpredictable way, from a more 'historical' perspective. Whilst there may not be any direct observation or report of a manifestation during the two weeks prior to the Mental Health Clustering Tool ASSESSMENT TOOL COMPLETION DATE, the evidence and clinical judgement would suggest that there is still a cause for concern that cannot be disregarded. In these circumstances, any event that remains relevant to the current CARE PLAN should be included.

     A.  Agitated behaviour / expansive mood (historical)
     B.  Repeat self-harm (historical)
     C.  Safeguarding children and vulnerable dependant adults (historical)
     D.  Engagement (historical)
     E.  Vulnerability (historical)

The allowed responses to each of the 18 items in the Mental Health Clustering Tool are:

• 0 - No problem
• 1 - Minor problem requiring no action
• 2 - Mild problem but definitely present
• 3 - Moderately severe problem
• 4 - Severe to very severe problem
• 9 - Not known

The PERSON SCORE from the Mental Health Clustering Tool is used to allocate the PATIENT to the most appropriate Mental Health Care Cluster.

Further information relating to the Mental Health Clustering Tool and Mental Health Care Clusters is available from the  Monitor part of the gov.uk website at: Guidance on mental health currencies and payment.

This supporting information is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	Mental Health Clustering Tools