Dimensions of class in the integration of health and social care

Abstract

The paper draws upon a research based consultancy to recommend an appropriate form of integration of health and social care for the elderly population of an outer London Health Authority, which included a general practice Total Purchasing project. It makes a critical analysis of current practice, and argues that prevailing managerial models of intetprofessional care reflect traditional class assumptions about the organisation of work processes in this field. The report developed an argrument for integration which built upon informal and formal joint working among frontline staff provinding home based care. This perspective privileges and legitimates users' perspectives, informal networks, joint working and home care and identifies them as key elements for effective integration. The final policy recommendation of the report that Home care should become the link service between health care and social services reflected this perspective.

Key Words:

• Class
• integrated care
• joint working
• informal networks
• users
• home care