BJSW Advance Access published online on May 23, 2009
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp060
An Audit of Assessment and Reporting by Approved Social Workers (ASWs)
Dr Gavin Davidson is a lecturer at the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Dr Jim Campbell is a senior lecturer at the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Correspondence to Dr Gavin Davidson, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK. E-mail: g.davidson{at}qub.ac.uk
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Abstract |
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This paper examines the routine practice of Approved Social Workers (ASWs) in adult mental health services in Northern Ireland. It begins with a review of existing literature on the ASW role before describing how a retrospective audit, using a mixed methods approach, was used to collect data on eighty-four assessments carried out to determine whether compulsory admission to hospital was needed. Respondents were also asked to consider how such assessments might be affected by proposed changes to the law in this field. The key findings highlighted a number of areas of practice that may be improved. There were inconsistencies in how the assessments were recorded and an uneven distribution of workloads across ASWs. Some problems were identified with inter-agency working and, in a quarter of the assessments, the ASW reported having felt afraid or at risk. The authors make a number of recommendations, which include: the use of a standard reporting procedure; that organisations should consider how to deliver a more even distribution of ASW workload; that protocols should be developed that ensure that ASWs are not left alone in potentially risky situations; and that joint assessments with General Practitioners should be required, rather than just recommended.
Keywords: Approved Social Work, mental health law, assessment, risk