Prospects for mental health social work: A qualitative study of attitudes of service managers and academic staff

Abstract

Background: Increasing overlap between professional roles in integrated mental health care raises questions about the future of social work as a distinct discipline.

Aims: This study explored the prospects for mental health social work in the eyes of key stakeholders.

Method: Qualitative interviews were held with senior mental health service managers, and academic staff from institutions providing social work training.

Results: A typology of attitudes emerged from service managers, who were categorized as traditionalists, eclecticists and genericists. Traditionalists supported a unified social work discipline, which would remain distinct from the NHS professions. Eclecticists favoured merging of roles, whilst believing that professional diversity should be retained. Genericists saw little difference between the various disciplines, and were enthusiastic towards a generic mental health practitioner. There was widespread recognition of the challenges facing social work, particularly its lack of academic status and evidence to support its interventions.

Conclusions: Mental health social work has an uncertain future. To gain influence on mental health policy and its own professional future, social work must boost its credibility by developing a stronger evidence base and asserting the value of its contribution.

Declaration of interest: None.

• Psychiatric social workers
• integrated services