| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
British Journal of Social Work (2003) 33, 1081-1103
© BASW Trading Ltd 2003 all rights reserved
Working in Multidisciplinary Community Mental Health Teams: The Impact on Social Workers and Health Professionals of Integrated Mental Health Care
Professor John Carpenter has been Director of the Centre for Applied Social Studies (CASS), University of Durham since 1997. He was previously Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology at the University of Kent and Lecturer in Social Work and Mental Health at Bristol University
Dr Justine Schneider is Senior Lecturer at CASS having worked from 1991 to 1998 as Research Fellow in the Personal Social Services Research Unit, also at Kent University
Dr Tony Brandon is Senior Research Associate at CASS and Senior Lecturer in Disability Studies, University of Northumbria at Newcastle. Between 1997 and 2000, they completed a comparative study of the processes, outcomes and costs of models of integration of community mental health services, the authors are currently researching assertive outreach services and the process and outcomes of multiprofessional education
David Wooff is Director of the Statistics Consultancy Unit, University of Durham. His work on applied statistics includes many projects with colleagues in CASS
Correspondence to Professor John Carpenter, Centre for Applied Social Studies, University of Durham, Elvet Riverside II, Durham DH1 3JT, UK. E-mail: J.S.W.Carpenter{at}dur.ac.uk
Summary
This study investigated the relationships between the organization of community mental health services and professional and team identification, team functioning and the psychological well-being and job satisfaction of staff working in multidisciplinary community mental health teams (CMHTs). Staff in four districts in the North of England completed anonymous questionnaires on two occasions, twelve months apart. There were systematic differences in team functioning, favouring teams in districts where mental health and social care services were integrated. However, service organization had no evident impact on professional or team identification or on outcomes for staff in terms of stress or job satisfaction. There were differences between social workers (n = 31) and health service professionals (n = 82) indicating that social workers had poorer perceptions of team functioning and experienced higher levels of role conflict. Controlling for other factors including the study districts, role conflict was a significant predictor of stress and of job dissatisfaction, while role clarity promoted job satisfaction. We conclude that support and supervision aimed at ensuring a social work contribution to multidisciplinary working should be provided in the course of establishing CMHTs and integrated health and social care services.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  P. Tham and G. Meagher Working in Human Services: How Do Experiences and Working Conditions in Child Welfare Social Work Compare? Br. J. Soc. Work, March 11, 2008; (2008) bcm170v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Tham Why Are They Leaving? Factors Affecting Intention to Leave among Social Workers in Child Welfare Br. J. Soc. Work, October 1, 2007; 37(7): 1225 - 1246. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Gould, P. Huxley, and J. Tew Finding a Direction for Social Research in Mental Health: Establishing Priorities and Developing Capacity Journal of Social Work, August 1, 2007; 7(2): 179 - 196. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Lawler Leadership in Social Work: A Case of Caveat Emptor? Br. J. Soc. Work, January 1, 2007; 37(1): 123 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Dustin Skills and Knowledge Needed to Practise as a Care Manager: Continuity and Change Journal of Social Work, December 1, 2006; 6(3): 293 - 313. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Richardson and S. Asthana Inter-agency Information Sharing in Health and Social Care Services: The Role of Professional Culture Br. J. Soc. Work, June 1, 2006; 36(4): 657 - 669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Cambridge, R. Forrester-Jones, J. Carpenter, A. Tate, M. Knapp, J. Beecham, and A. Hallam The State of Care Management in Learning Disability and Mental Health Services 12 Years into Community Care Br. J. Soc. Work, October 1, 2005; 35(7): 1039 - 1062. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|