The Jay Project was set up to devise a method for assessing the needs of individuals with mental handicaps, with particular reference to the services that they were then receiving and to identify future service needs. It presented service needs from the point of view of the individuals, rather than trying to fit them into current service provision. Assessments covered all the major areas of life. Findings were presented to a Steering Group whose members were drawn from all the relevant local statutory and voluntary agencies. It was hoped that the Project would be able to inform service planning both for the individuals assessed and on broader planning levels, would create a multi‐agency forum and approach to services, and would help to improve inter‐agency contact and cooperat