Social services assessment and care management: Getting it right

Abstract

This paper reviews the research evidence which shows that in a half to two thirds of the cases open to social services departments the client or his/her carer or family members suffer from a mental illness. It goes on to argue that research evidence suggests that care for people with a severe and long standing illness should be based on a direct rather than an administrative model of care. The research findings are presented in the form of a conversation between an advocate (A) who argues on behalf of the proposal, and a disbeliever or sceptic (S) who maintains a doubting attitude.