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BJSW Advance Access published online on June 19, 2008
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcn097
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved

Unified Assessment: Policy, Implementation and Practice

Diane Seddon, Catherine Robinson and Jenny Perry

Diane Seddon is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Medical and Social Care Research, whose main research interests are care-giving and assessment and care management. Catherine Robinson is the Director of the All Wales Alliance for Research and Development in health and social care (AWARD), North Wales Section. Jenny Perry is a Research Officer at the Institute of Medical and Social Care Research, whose research interests span social gerontology and qualitative analysis.

Correspondence to Diane Seddon, Institute of Medical and Social Care Research, University of Wales Bangor, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2AS, UK. Email: d.seddon{at}bangor.ac.uk


  Abstract

The introduction of single and unified assessment processes across England and Wales heralds opportunities to develop more consistent approaches to the assessment and management of care that are underpinned by an agreed evidence base and inform the development of person-centred, outcome-focused support. This paper presents key findings from a qualitative study that considers the implementation and effects of unified assessment on direct practice in general and care management in particular. Drawing on interview and focus group data that reflect the experiences of strategic and operational staff, this paper describes key challenges to the development and implementation of unified assessment procedures, highlights the ways in which unified assessment has facilitated positive changes to practice and explores aspects of unified assessment where translation into practice has proved difficult. It suggests that unified assessment promotes the more consistent application of eligibility criteria and encourages more creative approaches to both care and service delivery planning. However, considerable variability in the nature and volume of information collected by practitioners, who expressed reservations about the domain approach to assessment, is noted and problems relating to the sharing and management of information are highlighted. Recommendations to inform assessment practice across the UK are presented and areas for staff training are identified.

Keywords: Assessment, person-centred, outcome-focused, domain approach, care co-ordination


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