Looks at the potential and pitfalls of inquiries and argues that they have much to contribute to learning, but that this is not always realised. Argues that reform of inquiries should build on this and also make the most of the capacity of inquiries to learn from each other.
Looks at the potential and pitfalls of inquiries and argues that they have much to contribute to learning, but that this is not always realised. Argues that reform of inquiries should build on this and also make the most of the capacity of inquiries to learn from each other.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, public inquiries, child abuse, child protection;
Looks at the separation of children's and adult's services implied in the Children Bill. Argues that children whose parents have mental health problems might not be well served by the separation. Reports on research by the University of Hull which surveyed 500 health and social care professionals.
Looks at the separation of children's and adult's services implied in the Children Bill. Argues that children whose parents have mental health problems might not be well served by the separation. Reports on research by the University of Hull which surveyed 500 health and social care professionals.
Subject terms:
interagency cooperation, mental health problems, mental health services, organisational structure, parents, severe mental health problems, social care provision, child care, child protection, parental mental health;
Health and Social Care in the Community, 11(3), May 2003, pp.208-218.
Publisher:
Wiley
The gaps between mental health and child-care services constitute a recognised barrier to providing effective services to families where parents have mental health problems. Recent guidance exhorts professionals to co-ordinate and collaborate more consistently in this area. This study aimed to identify barriers to inter-professional collaboration through a survey of 500 health and social care professionals. The views of 11 mothers with severe mental health problems whose children had been subject to a child protection case conference were also interrogated through 2 sets of interviews. The study found that communication problems were identified more frequently between child care workers and adult psychiatrists than between other groups. Communication between GPs and child-care workers was also more likely to be described as problematic. While there was some support amongst practitioners for child-care workers to assume a co-ordinating or lead role in such cases, this support was not overwhelming and reflected professional interests and alliances. The mothers themselves valued support from professionals whom they felt were 'there for them' and whom they could trust. There was evidence from the responses of child-care social workers that they lacked the capacity to fill this role in relation to parents and their statutory child-care responsibilities may make it particularly difficult for them to do so. Recommends that a pair of workers from the child-care and community mental health services should share the co-ordinating key worker role in such cases.
The gaps between mental health and child-care services constitute a recognised barrier to providing effective services to families where parents have mental health problems. Recent guidance exhorts professionals to co-ordinate and collaborate more consistently in this area. This study aimed to identify barriers to inter-professional collaboration through a survey of 500 health and social care professionals. The views of 11 mothers with severe mental health problems whose children had been subject to a child protection case conference were also interrogated through 2 sets of interviews. The study found that communication problems were identified more frequently between child care workers and adult psychiatrists than between other groups. Communication between GPs and child-care workers was also more likely to be described as problematic. While there was some support amongst practitioners for child-care workers to assume a co-ordinating or lead role in such cases, this support was not overwhelming and reflected professional interests and alliances. The mothers themselves valued support from professionals whom they felt were 'there for them' and whom they could trust. There was evidence from the responses of child-care social workers that they lacked the capacity to fill this role in relation to parents and their statutory child-care responsibilities may make it particularly difficult for them to do so. Recommends that a pair of workers from the child-care and community mental health services should share the co-ordinating key worker role in such cases.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, mothers, parents, severe mental health problems, child care, child protection, parental mental health;
This book explores how the needs of students can be best met by student and community mental health services. It examines in practical detail how campus based agencies can work with voluntary agencies, community practitioners and students' families to provide effective support for students with mental health problems. The contexts of students' family relationships, debt, financial difficulty and substance abuse are also discussed.
This book explores how the needs of students can be best met by student and community mental health services. It examines in practical detail how campus based agencies can work with voluntary agencies, community practitioners and students' families to provide effective support for students with mental health problems. The contexts of students' family relationships, debt, financial difficulty and substance abuse are also discussed.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, social care provision, students, spirituality, substance misuse, suicide, voluntary organisations, attempted suicide, community mental health services, families;
Journal of Social Work, 1(1), April 2001, pp.77-99.
Publisher:
Sage
This article examines the findings of a series of mental health inquiry reports published in the UK during the 1990s and identifies implications for social workers operating in the field of mental health. These inquiry reports have been enormously influential in determining the shape of both services and new legislation. They have also delivered messages concerning practice both in terms of interprofessional communication and coordination and regarding direct work with service users. It is argued that social workers can use these inquiries to define their role more constructively and to distinguish their precise contribution to the network of mental health services. This may be particularly necessary at a time of major change.
This article examines the findings of a series of mental health inquiry reports published in the UK during the 1990s and identifies implications for social workers operating in the field of mental health. These inquiry reports have been enormously influential in determining the shape of both services and new legislation. They have also delivered messages concerning practice both in terms of interprofessional communication and coordination and regarding direct work with service users. It is argued that social workers can use these inquiries to define their role more constructively and to distinguish their precise contribution to the network of mental health services. This may be particularly necessary at a time of major change.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, mentally disordered offenders, homicide, prevention, public inquiries, risk, severe mental health problems, social work, assessment, community care;