The CUES—U items and normative descriptions

[ The complete CUES—U instrument is protected by Crown copyright, and may be obtained from: Research Department, NSF, 30 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4DD. ]

Each area has three questions to answer.

Part A. gives a normative statement describing the 'ideal' situation if there was no problem arising.
For example, money: 'You should have enough money to pay bills, stay out of debt and not miss meals. You should not have to feel isolated or cut off from society because of lack of money'.
The scale then asks how the person's situation compares with this

(A) as good as this,
(B) worse or
(C) very much worse than this ).

Part B.asks whether the user is satisfied with the issue described ( yes, unsure or no ).

Part C. allows space for a free text response, so that the user can describe their particular situation, including any specific problems with their life or the service provided.

The CUES-U is designed to be completed by the service user, independently of their care co-ordinator.

look at the Cues for Carers to get the full lay out

  1. Where you live
    The place you live in should meet your individual needs. You should not have to worry about having to move out, and it should not be too out-of-the-way. You should be able to come and go when you want, be alone when you want and not be harassed by the people you live with, by staff or by neighbours.
  2. Money
    You should have enough money to pay bills, stay out of debt and not miss meals. You should not have to feel isolated or cut off from society because of lack of money.
  3. Help with finances
    Many people find that they need help with claiming benefits, filling in forms and working out how to manage their money. You should get as much help as you need to do these things.

  4. How you spend your day
    You should have the opportunity to spend your day in some form of regular and meaningful activity. This could be working, studying, training or going to a day centre or day hospital.
  5. Family and friends
    Mental illness can affect a person's relationships with the people that he or she cares most about. You should be able to maintain good relationships with the people closest to you.
  6. Social life
    You should have the opportunity to mix with people and form new friendships and relationships. To make this possible, you should have enough money, access to transport if you need it and the use of a telephone.
  7. Information and advice
    You should be given as much information as you want or need about the services and treatments available to you, about the Mental Health Act and how it works and about the mental health system generally. Some people find it helpful to have someone like them (such as another service user or a member of the same community) to explain things to them. The information you are given should be clear and easy to understand, and should be available as and when you need it.
  8. Access to mental health services You should be able to get help from your local mental health services when you need it, throughout the week, at any time of the day or night.
  • Choice of mental health services
    A range of services should be available to you, and you should be able to choose those that closely match your needs, including complementary/alternative therapies, counselling and psychotherapy. You should have a choice about the mental health workers you meet with regularly (for example, being able to choose their gender or ethnic background) and be able to change workers if you do not get on.
  • Relationships with mental health workers
    Doctors, nurses, social workers and other mental health workers should show you respect, be honest with you and discuss things with you in a way in which you can understand. They should keep information about you confidential or ask your permission before passing it on to others. If they pass on information, it should be accurate and save you from having to repeat yourself to new mental health workers.
  • Consultation and control
    Mental health workers should not pressurise you to do anything that you do not want to, or take decisions on your behalf without getting your permission first. Even if you have been 'sectioned', people should show you respect, listen to you and take your opinions seriously.
  • Advocacy
    You should be able to put your views across to people in authority. This can be difficult for several reasons, such as the effects of medication, if English is not your first language or if the situation is frightening or intimidating. If you want, you should have somebody (an advocate) to help or support you, or speak for you. You should feel that this person really understands what you want and genuinely represents your views when he/she speaks on your behalf.
  • Stigma and discrimination
    You should feel safe and other people should not harass, exploit, victimise or be violent towards you. You should not experience stigma or discrimination at home, at work or from mental health workers, police or any other section of the community. People should not discriminate against you because of race, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability or for any other reason.
  • Your medication/drug treatment
    Medication should be given only to relieve the symptoms of mental ill health and to reduce your distress. All medication can have unwanted effects, but these should not cause more disruption to your life than improvement.
  • Access to physical health services
    You should be able to get the treatment and care that you need for your physical health when you need it, whether you are in hospital or living at home. You should be able to be registered with a general practitioner and have regular check-ups from a dentist. You should have access to other types of care, such as opticians, chiropodists, physiotherapists and so on.
  • Relationships with physical health workers
    The people who give you physical health care should listen to you, show you respect and take your condition seriously.
  • Other issues
    There may be other issues that are important to you, in addition to those that the questionnaire has already asked about. Please use the space below to write down anything else that is important to you, that you would like help with or that you would like to change.


     

    go to link page - whole life - longterm mentally ill