‘Maybe a Maverick, Maybe a Parent, but Definitely Not an Honorary Nurse’: Social Worker Perspectives on the Role and Nature of Social Work in Mental Health Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Tucker ◽  
Martin Webber
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Uk

Abstract In many places in the UK, social work is integral to mental health service delivery. Significant role erosion, however, has left the profession unclear about where it fits within modern mental health services. The 2016 Social Work for Better Mental Health initiative outlines five key mental health roles and has been adopted into national policy in England to combat this uncertainty, but the influence of this has not been explored. This study aimed to develop an understanding of how mental health social workers perceive and explain their role. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with seven social workers based within one English National Health Service mental health trust covering a large geographical area and their responses analysed using Ritchie, Spencer and O’Connor’s Framework thematic model. Findings indicated that social workers only superficially engaged with the aspirational policy roles, instead presenting their own framework for what makes mental health social work distinctive. This was constructed around the context and intentions of practice, rather than around proscribed tasks and responsibilities. This study has significance for individual social workers and for organisations providing and planning mental health services in the UK and beyond, given the influence that practitioner perceptions can have on how they undertake their roles.

Social Workers in Child Mental Health: Securing a Future

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 102-107
Author(s):  
Philip Messent
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Child Mental Health ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
The Uk

A study was conducted to investigate reductions in the numbers of social work posts located within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the UK. Results suggested that reductions in posts noted in earlier studies are continuing. Interviewees' ideas about factors contributing to the survival of such posts are summarised. The significance of the loss of posts is discussed, with an account of changing ideas about the role of social workers within CAMHS teams, and of an audit undertaken of one service lacking such a post. Conclusions are drawn concerning ways of ensuring the preservation of such posts.

scholarly journals Clinical Administration

1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 226-230
Author(s):  
J. W. Affleck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
National Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
National Health ◽  
Historical Perspective

In times of pessimism when psychiatry is described as in decline, subject to public scepticism with the psychiatrist's role threatened by social workers, psychologists and community nurses, one's immediate reaction is to adopt a historical perspective. The advances achieved during the last 50 years which I recall are so impressive that it seems reasonable to see current legal and bureaucratic problems as resembling a ditch rather than a precipice! These advances have occurred in spite of adverse administrative situations. It is important to remember that in spite of its merits the National Health Service was not conceived with Mental Health Services in mind—nor were Social Work Services.

Examining Models of Mental Health Service Delivery in the Emergency Department

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 784-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Wand ◽  
Kathryn White
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Service Delivery

The purpose of the present paper was to review the current models of mental health service delivery used in the emergency department (ED) setting. A search was conducted of the nursing and medical literature from 1990 to 2007 for relevant articles and reports. Consideration was also given to the global and local context influencing contemporary mental health services. Wider sociopolitical and socioeconomic influences and systemic changes in health-care delivery have dictated a considerable shift in attention for mental health services worldwide. The ED is a topical location that has attracted interest and necessitated a response. The mental health liaison nurse (MHLN) role embedded within the ED structure has demonstrated the most positive outcomes to date. This model aims to raise mental health awareness and address concerns over patient-focused outcomes such as reduced waiting times, therapeutic intervention and more efficient coordination of care and follow up for individuals presenting to the ED in psychological distress. Further research is required into all methods of mental health service delivery to the ED. The MHLN role is a cost-effective approach that has gained widespread approval from ED staff and mental health patients and is consistent with national and international expectations for mental health services to become fully integrated within general health care. The mental health nurse practitioner role situated within the ED represents a potentially promising alternative for enhanced public access to specialized mental health care.

scholarly journals Remote mental health services: a mixed-methods survey and interview study on the use, value, benefits and challenges of a national video consulting service in NHS Wales, UK

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e053014
Author(s):  
Gemma Johns ◽  
Anna Burhouse ◽  
Jacinta Tan ◽  
Oliver John ◽  
Sara Khalil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Use Value ◽  
Specific Data ◽  
Mental Health Service Delivery

Social distancing laws during the first year of the pandemic, and its unprecedented changes to the National Health Service (NHS) forced a large majority of services, especially mental health teams to deliver patient care remotely. For many, this approach was adopted out of necessity, rather than choice, thus presenting a true ‘testing ground’ for remote healthcare and a robust evaluation on a national and representative level.ObjectiveTo extract and analyse mental health specific data from a national dataset for 1 year (March 2020–March 2021).DesignA mixed-methods study using surveys and interviews.SettingIn NHS mental health services in Wales, UK.ParticipantsWith NHS patients and clinicians across child and adolescent, adult and older adult mental health services.Outcome measuresMixed methods data captured measures on use, value, benefits and challenges of video consulting (VC).ResultsA total of 3561 participants provided mental health specific data. These data and its findings demonstrate that remote mental health service delivery, via the method of VC is highly satisfactory, well-accepted and clinically suitable for many patients, and provides a range of benefits to NHS patients and clinicians. Interestingly, clinicians working from ‘home’ rated VC more positively compared with those at their ‘clinical base’.ConclusionsPost 1-year adoption, remote mental health services in Wales UK have demonstrated that VC is possible from both a technical and behavioural standpoint. Moving forward, we suggest clinical leaders and government support to sustain this approach ‘by default’ as an option for NHS appointments.

scholarly journals Social prescribing for patients of secondary mental health services: emotional, psychological and social well-being outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-279
Author(s):  
Chris Dayson ◽  
Jo Painter ◽  
Ellen Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Prescribing

Purpose This paper aims to identify the well-being outcomes of a social prescribing model set within a secondary mental health service recovery pathway and understand the key characteristics of a social prescribing referral for producing these outcomes. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study of one mental health social prescribing service with three nested case studies of social prescribing providers. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with commissioners, providers and patients (n = 20) and analysed thematically. Findings Social prescribing makes a positive contribution to emotional, psychological and social well-being for patients of secondary mental health services. A key enabling mechanism of the social prescribing model was the supportive discharge pathway which provided opportunities for sustained engagement in community activities, including participation in peer-to-peer support networks and volunteering. Research limitations/implications More in-depth research is required to fully understand when, for whom and in what circumstances social prescribing is effective for patients of secondary mental health services. Practical implications A supported social prescribing referral, embedded within a recovery focussed secondary mental health service pathway, offers a valuable accompaniment to traditional approaches. Current social prescribing policy is focussed on increasing the number of link workers in primary care, but this study highlights the importance models embedded within secondary care and of funding VCSE organisations to receive referrals and provide pathways for long-term engagement, enabling positive outcomes to be sustained. Originality/value Social prescribing is widely advocated in policy and practice but there are few examples of social prescribing models having been developed in secondary mental health services, and no published academic studies that everybody are aware of.

The perspectives of people who use mental health services engaging with arts and cultural activities

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Jensen ◽  
Theodore Stickley ◽  
Alison Edgley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Museum Educator

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a study of arts engagement for mental health service users in Denmark. Design/methodology/approach – The study was completed at Hans Knudsen Instituttet, Denmark. It involved analysis of emerging themes from semi-structured interviews with six participants who had participated in a structured visit to the National Gallery (Statens Museum for Kunst) in Denmark. Findings – Multiple benefits for people who use mental health services engaging in arts activities are reported. Arts activities are described as a central component of everyday life; a way of life and a significant factor in getting through the day. Barriers are identified in the interdisciplinary working between the museum educator and participants. Social implications – This study identifies that the participants benefited from taking part in the arts/cultural activity. Findings also suggest that if museums are offering activities to people who use mental health services they should equip staff with training designed to support appropriate ways of working with this group. This interdisciplinary activity offers a relatively untapped potential arena of support. Originality/value – The paper will be of relevance and value to those working with mental health and arts. The study demonstrates the importance for mental health service users to engage in creative activity and for museum staff to have appropriate skills for inclusion to be successful.

scholarly journals Access to mental health for Black youths in Alberta

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 245-253
Author(s):  
Bukola Salami ◽  
Benjamin Denga ◽  
Robyn Taylor ◽  
Nife Ajayi ◽  
Margot Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Advisory Committee ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Black Youth ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
The Impact

Introduction The objective of this study was to examine the barriers that influence access to and use of mental health services by Black youths in Alberta. Methods We used a youth-led participatory action research (PAR) methodology within a youth empowerment model situated within intersectionality theory to understand access to health care for both Canadian-born and immigrant Black youth in Alberta. The research project was co-led by an advisory committee consisting of 10 youths who provided advice and tangible support to the research. Seven members of the advisory committee also collected data, co-facilitated conversation cafés, analyzed data and helped in the dissemination activities. We conducted in-depth individual interviews and held four conversation café-style focus groups with a total of 129 youth. During the conversation cafés, the youths took the lead in identifying issues of concern and in explaining the impact of these issues on their lives. Through rigorous data coding and thematic analysis as well as reflexivity and member checking we ensured our empirical findings were trustworthy. Results Our findings highlight key barriers that can limit access to and utilization of mental health services by Black youth, including a lack of cultural inclusion and safety, a lack of knowledge/information on mental health services, the cost of mental health services, geographical barriers, stigma and judgmentalism, and limits of resilience. Conclusion Findings confirm diverse/intersecting barriers that collectively perpetuate disproportional access to and uptake of mental health services by Black youths. The results of this study suggest health policy and practice stakeholders should consider the following recommendations to break down barriers: diversify the mental health service workforce; increase the availability and quality of mental health services in Black-dominated neighbourhoods; and embed anti-racist practices and intercultural competencies in mental health service delivery.

Wittman, Milton

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Irelan Knee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Work Education

Milton Wittman (1915–1994) was a social worker, writer, and leader in social work, public health, and mental health. He played a key role in the expansion of opportunities for social work education and for the involvement of social workers in the provision of mental health services.

Peer workers in mental health services: literature overview

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Gillard ◽  
Jessica Holley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
List Type ◽  
Mental Health Service Delivery ◽  
The Uk

SummaryPeer worker roles are being introduced in mental health services in the UK and internationally, to support individuals in their recovery. There is substantial qualitative evidence that demonstrates benefits at an individual level and some evidence of impact on service use and costs, although there are currently few high-quality randomised controlled trials supporting these findings, especially from the UK. A growing body of research indicates that careful consideration of organisational issues regarding the introduction of peer worker roles – the distinctiveness and shared expectations of the role, strategic alignment, organisational support – might maximise their impact. Properly supported and valued peer workers are an important resource to the multidisciplinary team, offering experiential knowledge and the ability to engage patients in their treatment through building relationships of trust based on shared lived experience.LEARNING OBJECTIVESAppreciate the origins of the peer worker role and how the role has been introduced into mental health services to date.Understand the evidence for the benefits of peer worker roles, for patients, peer workers and mental health service delivery.Demonstrate awareness of the organisational and team-level barriers to and facilitators of introducing peer workers into, or alongside, existing multidisciplinary mental health teams.

scholarly journals Mental Health Services Data Dashboards for Reporting to Australian Governments during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10514
Author(s):  
Sonam Shelly ◽  
Emily Lodge ◽  
Carly Heyman ◽  
Felicity Summers ◽  
Amy Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Service Use ◽  
Australian Government ◽  
Support Organizations

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has been providing support to the Australian Government Department of Health to report on mental health-related data to Australian governments on a frequent basis since April 2020 in the form of COVID-19 mental health services data dashboards. These dashboards feature extensive use of data visualizations which illustrate the change in mental health service use over time as well as comparisons with pre-pandemic levels of service use. Data are included from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS/RPBS), Australian Government-funded crisis and support organizations, and key findings from emerging research. Demand for telehealth, crisis and support organizations and online mental health information services, in particular, have increased during the pandemic. The dashboards incorporate both new and existing data sources and represent an innovative way of reporting mental health services data to Australian governments. The reporting has enabled timely, targeted adjustments to mental health service delivery during the pandemic with improved cooperative data sharing arrangements having the potential to yield ongoing benefits.

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