Discovery Star
The Discovery Star is for people with persistent physical symptoms which are complex to identify and treat such as fatigue, breathlessness, ongoing pain, autonomic dysfunction such as PoTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome – where heart rate is raised when sitting or standing) or palpitations. Symptoms may be present due to a number of conditions, including post-viral presentations such as Long Covid, ME/CFS (Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), or other persistent physical symptom presentations such as FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) or fibromyalgia.
There may not be a specific diagnosis or label. It charts the journey of discovery towards finding fulfilment, whatever that means for you, and a sense that things are stable and sustainable.
The Discovery Star was developed in collaboration with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – North Wales NHS Long Covid service.
How does the Discovery Star work?
The Discovery Star is a holistic, person-centred keywork and measurement tool for practitioners to use in one-to-one support work. Completing the Star aims to be an engaging, empowering and collaborative process that helps you to build an open, trusting relationship with the person that you’re supporting.
The Star aims to create a safe space where genuine conversations can happen and you can explore all relevant aspects of a person’s life, track progress and create a shared basis for an action or support plan.
The Discovery Star covers eight outcome areas:
- Pacing and priorities
- Daily living
- Roles and responsibilities
- Family and friends
- Emotional well-being
- Nervous system regulation
- Healthy lifestyle
- Managing symptoms
Discovery Star and the Journey of Change
Change doesn’t happen in one go – it is a journey, and it can help to understand the steps along the way. Everyone makes changes in their own way, but the pattern is often similar. The Discovery Star is underpinned by a five-stage Journey of Change:
- Crisis or overwhelm
- Taking it in
- Acknowledging and exploring
- Discovering
- Finding fulfilment
How does this work?
The Journey of Change works with an outcome area like the ones outlined above to help collaborative discussions about what the person completing the Star is experiencing and how best to make changes at each stage.
For the outcome ‘Pacing and priorities’ the Journey of Change would look like the visual below:
The full Star materials also include lots of extra details on what a person might be experiencing at each stage to help them decide where they are on their journey.
What are the benefits of the Outcomes Stars?
The Outcomes Stars give you an evidence-based measurement tool to support keyworking in a way that is person-centred, collaborative and trauma-informed.
They work because they are underpinned with a sense of hope – that even when things are challenging, positive change in some way is always possible. Their detail and flexibility helps you to understand what’s likely to work for an individual while giving you more information to help you deliver effective services.
Why are the Outcomes Stars so effective?
- A clearer and more detailed picture of change. The Star measures not only end outcomes – for example gaining employment – but includes broader outcomes such as quality of life.
- An integral part of keywork. The Star is completed collaboratively vs self-reporting or a professional-only tool.
- Supporting action planning. The Star allows you to easily see information about the areas where support is needed and what that support should look like.
- Support for effective service delivery. The Stars help your organisation to deliver support in a holistic, strengths-based and person-centred way.
- Tailored organisational support. Many measurement tools offer little to no support on how to use them. Using an Outcomes Star means you will get tailored support so you can understand whether the Star is a good fit, training so staff can use the Star effectively and access to the Star Online digital platform.
Want to discover more about the Discovery Star or any other Star? Get in touch with our friendly team who will be happy to answer your questions.
If you are based somewhere that is not listed above, please check out our International page to see what is available in your country.
Discovery Star development collaborator
