Needs in Recovery Assessment:
The Needs in Recovery Assessment (NiRA) has been developed to facilitate important discussions with people who present to mental health services.
The NiRA provides a framework to systematically and holistically assess a broad array of needs that may be experienced by people recovering from an episode of mental illness, poor mental health or an experience of mental distress.
Purpose and Objectives of the NiRA
Introduction
The NiRA has been developed to assist mental health clinicians and support workers to systematically and holistically assess a broad array of needs that may be experienced by people who are recovering from a mental illness.
Its purpose is to reduce the stress and vulnerability experienced by service users as a result of unmet needs through a process of identifying needs, prioritising unmet needs, planning and setting goals to meet unmet needs and then evaluating and reflecting on what has worked, what hasn’t worked and how to proceed with meeting needs in the future.
Objectives Include:
Engage service users
One of the key objectives of the NiRA is to engage service users in discussions about the needs they may be experiencing while recovering from a first episode of mental illness. .
Facilitate assessment
The NiRA has been designed to facilitate mental health clinicians and other stakeholders to work within a recovery framework of care, ensuring service delivery is in alignment with current best-practice recommendations and policies.
Empower service users
One of the priorities when using the NiRA is to assist service users to feel empowered as treatment plans are being designed and referrals are being made. Key objectives of the NiRA are that plans become tailored to the needs of the individual, and that service users are involved in planning processes..
Assessment Process
1. Identify the needs of the service user using the 38-items of need on the NiRA.
2. Rate severity of identified needs by marking the appropriate rating box.
3. Discuss which needs require prioritising using prompts provided on table .
4. Discuss options for meeting these needs, including who is available to assist.
Set achievable goals together.
5. Re-evaluate the needs previously identified using reflective questions.
Plan next steps required to meet needs.
Assessing the needs of service users should involve an ongoing discussion to identify new and ongoing unmet needs; prioritise unmet needs; set goals to meet unmet needs and to evaluate and re-evaluate strategies which have been implemented to address unmet needs.
This process may occur at every routine appointment, or at specific and planned needs assessment appointments.
The NiRA assessment tool
The tool is free for downloading to view, refer or test in your practice.
The NiRA helps clinicians and service users identify and prioritise unmet recovery needs across practical, daily living, health, informational, emotional, and relationship domains. It includes rating needs, planning support, and reviewing progress. As the document states, it aims to “facilitate a conversation about unmet needs.”
Nira tool preview - Introduction
Nira tool preview - Physical assessment
Nira tool preview - Discussion section
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