A senior occupational therapist was appointed to evaluate the work of a horticultural therapy unit in West Dorset. Together with a senior clinical psychologist she began by developing a rating scale to be used in measuring work skills, health and social behaviour in clients referred to the unit. In this paper, the authors explain how they modified an existing psychiatric rating scale to one better suited for use in a horticultural work setting. Instructions for raters, the scoring system, and how to pilot a new scale are all discussed, as are aspects of reliability and validity. Further comments on the scale from several interested professionals are also included.
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