title: The role of government policy in service development in a New Zealand statutory mental health service: implications for policy planning and development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationship between government policy and service development in a New Zealand statutory mental health provider, Living Well.
  
  
  METHODS
  An organisational case study utilising multiple research techniques including qualitative interviews, analysis of business and strategic documents and observation of meetings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staff understood and acknowledged the importance of government policy, but there were challenges in its implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within New Zealand's statutory mental health services staff struggled to know how to implement government policy as part of service development; rather, operational concerns, patient need, local context and service demands drove the service development process.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, School of Health and Social Services, Massey University, New Zealand n.stanley-clarke@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Nicky
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stanley-Clarke
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, School of Health and Social Services, Massey University, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Professor, School of Health and Social Services, Massey University, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munford
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009520:New Zealand
keywords: government policy; planning; service development; statutory mental health services