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Integration of health and social care - what can Wales learn ... and contribute?
- Author:
- MORGAN Gareth
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 14(1), 2013, pp.47-55.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Drawing on the findings of a literature review, and on experience from the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada in particular, this paper looks at health and social care service integration and considers the situation in Wales. It summarises developments in health and social care integration in European countries and Canada, commenting on learning opportunities and challenges. It then considers health and social care integration policy and practice in Wales, with particular reference to experience of integration, person centred care, and the United Nations Principles for Older People. It concludes that integration challenges remain, but that Wales is well placed to advance the integration agenda.
Integrated social services in Europe
- Author:
- MUNDAY Brian
- Publisher:
- Council of Europe
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 93p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Strasbourg
Report of a project aiming to review existing work on social services integration across Europe, concentrating on its benefits for the most vulnerable groups and the strengthening of social cohesion, and to develop policy guidelines. In the report, social services refers to personal social services provided for individuals related to their specific needs and circumstances, and the term integration applies to a range of approaches or methods for achieving greater coordination and effectiveness between services to achieve improved outcomes of the service users. It discusses benefits of integrating social services with services such as health and of disintegration of social services, looks at research on theoretical and evidence-based approaches to integration of social services, and reviews models for integrating social and health services, identifying the main barriers to integration. It sets out approaches to integration of social services across selected European countries, and includes policy guidelines for the design and implementation of integrated models of social services.
Managing effective partnerships in older people's services
- Author:
- NILES Henk
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 14(5), September 2006, pp.391-399.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The integration of older people's services is a challenge to all countries with an ageing population. Although it is widely acknowledged that acute care, long-term care, social care, housing, leisure, education and other services should all operate in a more 'joined-up manner', achieving this in practice remains extremely difficult. Against this background, the European Union (EU) Care and Management of Services for Older People in Europe Network (CARMEN) project set out to explore the management of integrated care in 11 EU countries. Summarising key themes from the project, this paper explores the management of integrated care, the skills required, the mechanisms which aid successful integrated approaches, and future research priorities. Although very challenging, the concept of integrated care is still a promising way forward when seeking to meet the challenges of an ageing society.
What do we mean by integrated care?: a European interpretation
- Author:
- BILLINGS J. R.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 13(5), October 2005, pp.13-20.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
It is suggested that a common understanding of integrated care between multi-professional staff is vital to prevent barriers to unification and quality of care. This paper examines qualitative data from PROCARE, a recently completed European project on integrated care for older people, to put forward an interpretation of what integrated care means to staff. Through thematic analysis, four main clusters were identified. The paper suggests that, while the analysis revealed a common and inter-related European interpretation that was somewhat idealised and moralistic, this was countered by challenges to its implementation that were inseparable from the rhetoric. The paper suggests that a collective, morally strong understanding is unable to prevent barriers to integrated care, and that tensions between services remain a prominent impediment.
International Journal of Integrated Care
- Publisher:
- International Foundation for Integrated Care
This is an international, European-based electronic journal which is available free of charge. It focuses on integrated care, including the methods and strategies for linking and coordinating the various aspects of care delivered by different systems at local, national and international levels. The full text of articles are freely available in English and abstracts are available in English, Spanish and French. This title is published as an online only title. This journal is selectively abstracted and indexed in Social Care Online.
Service integration across sectors in Europe: literature and practice
- Authors:
- VAN DUIJN Sarah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Integrated Care, 18(2), 2018, p.6. Online only
- Publisher:
- International Foundation for Integrated Care
Introduction: To meet the needs of vulnerable people, the integration of services across different sectors is important. This paper presents a preliminary review of service integration across sectors in Europe. Examples of service integration between social services, health, employment and/or education were studied. A further aim of the study was to improve conceptual clarity regarding service integration across sectors, using Minkman’s Developmental Model for Integrated Care (DMIC) as an analytical framework. Methods: The study methods comprised a literature review (34 articles) and a survey of practice examples across Europe (44 practices). This paper is based on a more comprehensive study published in 2016. Results: The study demonstrates that although the focus of integration across sectors is often on social services and health care, other arrangements are also frequently in place. The review shows that integration may be either tailored to a particular target group or designed for communities in general. Although systems to monitor and evaluate social service integration are often present, they are not yet fully developed. The study also highlights the importance of good leadership and organisational support in integrated service delivery. Discussion: The study shows that the DMIC can work as a conceptual framework for the analysis of service integration across sectors. However, as this is an exploratory study, further in-depth case studies are required to deepen our understanding of the processes involved in service integration across sectors. (Edited publisher abstract)
Integrated care: a guide for policymakers
- Authors:
- LLOYD James, WAIT Suzanne
- Publishers:
- Alliance for Health and the Future, International Longevity Centre UK
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 24
- Place of publication:
- London
Integrated care seeks to close the traditional division between health and social care, and has become a core component of health and social care reforms across Europe. This guide proposes eight recommendations for policymakers to take forward the integrated care agenda: deliver coherent care policies; set realistic objectives for integrated care models; address the cultural divide between social and health care providers; find the appropriate balance between use and provider integration; leverage experience and learning from pilot projects; store research; conduct research on cost effectiveness; and explore the scope for technology to facilitate integrated care. The report includes examples of integrated care models across Europe. (Edited publisher abstract)
Integrated care for older people in Europe: latest trends and perceptions
- Author:
- LEICHSENRING Kai
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Integrated Care, 12(1), 2012, Online only
- Publisher:
- International Foundation for Integrated Care
This perspectives paper reflects upon the authors experience in researching long-term care, the rationale for creating integrated long-term care systems, and discusses some innovations. As a researcher and consultant he has coordinated local pilots and European research projects to improve long-term care for older people by better integrating health and social care systems. One of his main conclusions is the need to treat long-term care as a system in its own right. It is suggested that long-term care systems require a discernable identity; specific policies, structures, processes and pathways; and the leadership and resources that can underpin expectations, drive performance for better outcomes for those living with (and working for those with) long-term care needs. The author notes that progress in developing LTC systems can be identified in all European countries. Integrated care solutions at the interface of health and social care, and between formal and informal care, have appeared. He notes that these have been achieved partly by means of (slow) political reforms, partly as a response to market-oriented governance, and in many cases through pioneering community and civil society initiatives. The paper concludes that it will depend on such initiatives, and their ability to convince both citizens and policy-makers, as to whether new societal approaches to long-term care are created that meet the demands of ageing societies.
Ending homelessness: a handbook for policy makers
- Author:
- FEANTSA
- Publisher:
- FEANTSA
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- Brussels
This handbook is aimed at policy makers and others seeking to tackle homelessness in Europe. It sets out the need for ambitious strategies which aim to end homelessness, and details the priorities and essential components that such strategies should contain. More specifically, it presents a set of 5 goals that strategies to end homelessness must work towards achieving: no one sleeping rough; no one living in emergency accommodation for longer than is an ‘emergency’; no one living in transitional accommodation longer than is required for successful move-on; no one leaving an institution without housing options; and no young people becoming homeless as a result of the transition to independent living. Examples of approaches in Scotland, Finland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France which have been used to make progress towards these goals are provided. The handbook also presents FEANTSA’s toolkit for developing an integrated strategy to tackle homelessness. This toolkit sets out the 10 approaches that FEANTSA believes the most effective homelessness policies should include.
Co-operating and communicating: a European perspective on integrating services for children
- Authors:
- KATZ Ilan, HETHERINGTON Rachael
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse Review, 15(6), November 2006, pp.429-439.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper looks at the range of differences within European child protection systems and considers the relationship between different approaches and the integration of children and family services. A distinction is made between structures that are child and family welfare focused, and those that are child protection focused. Some of the different structures of service delivery are described and the effect of these structures on the roles of the main stakeholders (and therefore on integration of services) is considered. Reference is made to a practice-based research project that considered co-operation and communication between health and welfare services in 12 countries. This research provides examples of different ways of integrating services and encouraging co-operation. The research project gave indications of the factors that contributed to better communication and to better outcomes. Structure did not seem to be of primary importance, though it might help or hinder. However, with co-operation, very different structures could work effectively. In general, high levels of material resources helped. However, professional time was the most important resource, because time was needed to develop effective working relationships with other professionals. The factors that facilitated good interdisciplinary and interagency work point to the centrality of a professional and managerial culture that values the development of good working relationships both with families and with other professionals. Conflictual and defensive inter-professional relationships created problems, however well organized the system.