Social work involvement in primary care settings and mental health centres: A survey in England and Wales

Abstract

A survey was conducted of all local authorities in England and Wales. Questions were asked about social work links with general practice and with community mental health centres. Over 60% of the boroughs which responded had one or more social work attachment or liaison schemes with general practice. Social work involvement with community mental health centres was more common: three quarters had a social worker attached or based in these centres and the most of the others had liaison schemes. It will be important to investigate the effect that care management and the new health service funding arrangements will have on these arrangements.