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The User Focused Monitoring (UFM) Project at Peter Bedford Housing Association
The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health developed User Focused Monitoring (UFM) in 1996. It is a method for involving mental health service users in the evaluation of mental health services.
Peter Bedford Housing Association has been delivering the UFM project for Camden and Islington Primary Care Trusts since June 2005. There are a small number of other projects utilising the UFM method in England.
The main characteristics of UFM are that service users are involved in all aspects of UFM evaluation projects. Secondly, service users' concerns, issues and experiences are the primary focus of the evaluations.
Audit as the evaluation method
At Peter Bedford Housing Association we usually use audit as the method for evaluating services and improving their quality. We do this by systematically reviewing care against explicit standards and criteria, and recommending actions for improvement. Service managers then devise an action plan based on the recommendations. Some time after the plan's implementation the service is re-audited to measure progress. Audit is therefore a cyclical process. Service users who work on the audits are called 'auditors'.
Other services the UFM project provides
The UFM service at Peter Bedford Housing Association is a dynamic and expanding one. In June 2009 we started a new project under UFM providing a Quality Review Service for nursing and residential homes for older people in Islington, commissioned by Islington PCT. We also provide consultation and training services to external agencies on the methodologies we use and other related issues. Our consultation and training services attract fees.
Work Opportunities with UFM at Peter Bedford
The UFM project employs service user auditors who are either volunteers or work as paid sessional workers (for an average 2 hours per week). In providing real work experience it can help people back into employment and provide an opportunity to contribute to service improvements.
Currently adults who are, or have been mental health service users who live in Camden or Islington are eligible to apply to become UFM mental health service auditors.
We also employ volunteers to work on the Quality Review Service (QRS) reviewing the quality of care in Islington's residential and nursing homes. The QRS volunteers must have experience of living with or caring for people with dementia.
If you are interested in applying for one of these roles or in discussing the services we provide then please contact the UFM manager (see contacts section).
Reports and Publications
Inpatient advocacy services in Camden report  Click here to read the report
Inpatient advocacy services in Islington report Click here to read the report.
In-patient treatment and care at the Grove Centre report Click here to read the report.
Inpatient treatment and care at the Huntley Centre report
Summary report tinyurl.com/mhq5m6
Full report tinyurl.com/lfboqr
Employment support for mental health service users in Islington (in progress)
Process for requesting a mental health service audit (welcome from service users, carers and service providers)
If you strongly feel a mental health service in Camden or Islington could benefit from being evaluated please download and submit an  Audit Project Application Form
Contact us:
Maggie Lay, User Focused Monitoring Manager, Peter Bedford Housing Association, Legard Works, Legard Road, London, E5 1DE. Telephone 0207 226 6074; emai:l maggie.lay@peterbedford.org.uk
Links
INVOLVE – an organisation that supports and promotes active public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research: http://www.invo.org.uk/
News items
 Working Futures Project
Healthy Lifestyle Volunteers
An Overview of User Focused Monitoring
Camden and Islington Mind Advocacy Reports
View News items from the Archive
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