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The aim of this paper is to report our notes from the field on using movement toward goals at an aggregate level as an inference of service effectiveness. Analysis of routinely collected data from UK youth mental health services was conducted (N = 8,172, age M = 13.8, 67% female, 32% male) to explore the impact of including goal‐based outcome data in combined calculations of standardized measures based on the principles of reliable change ("measurable change"). Due to the broad nature of standardized measures, inferred validity becomes diluted in any team or service level aggregate analysis. To make inferences that are closer to the person's interpretation of their difficulties, we argue that Idiographic Patient Reported Outcome Measures (I‐PROMs) counterbalance these limitations. This is supported by our findings. The measurable change metric is the first step towards enabling national analysis of aggregated I‐PROMs. I‐PROMs, supplemented by standardized measures should be used to consider service evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of an idiographic, goal‐focused patient‐reported outcome measure: The Goals Form. Methods: Data were analyzed from 88 participants, across three samples, who had participated in collaborative–integrative psychotherapy at university‐based clinics in the UK. The samples were approximately 70% female with mean age of 30 years old. Results: The psychometric properties of the Goals Form were generally good. Noncompletion of individual items was low, temporal stability tended to be at target levels, and mean change scores showed moderate to good convergent validity against measures of psychological distress. The measure appeared sensitive to change in psychotherapy and was experienced by most patients as helpful. Conclusions: The Goals Form shows acceptable psychometric and clinical properties for routine outcome monitoring in psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]