Treatment Outcome Profile (TOP) Process
Treatment Outcomes Profile (TOP)
Local Implementation Newcastle upon Tyne
Background
The Treatment Outcomes Profile (TOP) is a brief key worker administered
questionnaire used as part of the Care Plan and Review process. The questions are
based on the 4 domains:
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Drug and alcohol use
Physical and psychological health
Offending and criminal involvement
Social functioning
The TOP will allow key workers and service uses to track progress within the 4
domains throughout the treatment journey. It is not designed to replace existing
reviews and interview and should be used to compliment any current/existing
systems.
What is TOP?
The TOP has been developed as a resource for use by tier 3 and 4 Drug Treatment
Services to monitor treatment outcomes. It is a simple validated tool that can be
incorporated into NDTMS and Care Plan Reviews and will show the effectiveness of
Services and Partnership.
Which Services should use TOP?
TOP should be used by all services who offer structured treatment.
When should TOP be used?
It should be used at all stages throughout the client’s journey at suggested 3 monthly
intervals. It will measure all episodes of particular events within the past 4 weeks.
There will be a 2 week window at either side of a 3 month period for the submission
of TOP data. Exception reporting will occur for those who do not have a top score
within a given 4 month period.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE IS EXPLAINED IN FAR MORE DETAIL IN THE NTA GUIDANCE FOR
MANAGERS AND KEY WORKERS, HOWEVER THERE IS A NEED TO IDENTIFY THE LOCAL
AGREEMENT FOR COMPLETION OF TOPS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT DUPLICATION DOES
NOT OCCUR AS IT IS CLEAR ONLY ONE SERVICE SHOULD COMPLETE TOPS FOR A GIVEN
CLIENT, AND CLIENTS MAY USE A MULTIPLICITY OF SERVICES.
THE ADULT TREATMENT GROUP WILL BE USED AS THE FORUM FOR TOPS IMLEMENTATION
AND REVIEW.
Who is the Responsible Agency for Completing a TOP on an Individual?
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If the client is only involved with 1 tier 3 or 4 service this service has a
responsibility to complete the TOP.
If a client is involved with more than 1 tier 3 or 4 service the following should
be a general guideline:
o
If the client is involved with a prescribing service i.e. Bridge View or
Plummer Court it is their responsibility to complete the TOP
o
If the client is involved with a voluntary and a statutory service i.e.
(Social Services) but not a prescribing service it will be the statutory
services responsibility to complete the TOP
o
If a client is involved with Shared Care they should be treated in the
same way as a prescribing service although it is likely that the TOP will
be completed by the drug worker who supports Shared Care, on behalf
of the shared care prescribing service.
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This means the lead agency responsibility will always be in the following
order:
o
Prescribing Service (PC, BV, SC)
o
Statutory Service
o
Voluntary Service
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If a client who is involved with multiple agencies is discharged from a
prescribing service, the responsibility will then fall to the next service
according to this list i.e. Social Services, and if not voluntary sector.
If more than one voluntary sector service are the only services involved with
the client, a discussion and agreement as to who completes the TOP must be
had and clearly recorded.
If a client is referred from a tier 3 service to a tier 4 service, the tier 3 service
should stipulate when their next TOP is due and agree who will complete it.
If the client will still be in the tier 4 service at the due date, it would normally
be the Tier 4 service that will complete the TOP.
If the tier 4 service is out of area, they can still complete the TOP but it must
be ensured that they record the appropriate DAT of residence.
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