Multi-voiced assessment in a mental health final statement

Abstract

AbstractThe focus of this article is on the records written during an intensive assessment and rehabilitation course targeted at young adults suffering from severe mental health issues. The ability of the clients to cope with everyday life is assessed during the rehabilitation course and the final statement compiled by the keyworker includes the combined results of the assessments of each client. Using intertextual analysis, I examine these final statements and utilize the concepts of voice and direct and indirect reported speech. I ask how and what kinds of voices are used in final statement to assess the clients’ progress during the course and to define the future development tasks for them. Firstly, it is shown that the final statements are multi-voiced texts. They are persuasive statements about the clients’ development stories and descriptions of how the rehabilitation course practitioners have helped the client. Secondly, the analysis shows how voice and client knowledge are present in the final statement. The voices of assessment build the argument dialogically and highlight temporality, and in this way they produce a convincing description of the mental health client’s current ability to function and progress on the rehabilitation course.