title: Analysis of the forms, functions and facilitation of social support in one English county: a way for professionals to improve the quality of health care.
abstract: Voluntary organisations are an integral part of community care, and the available research indicates the value of their social support role. However, surprisingly little is known about the forms and functions of this support, or the links to the formal support provided by the National Health Service (NHS), so hampering quality improvements. Therefore, a small sample of voluntary service organisations in one English county participated in a pilot study. This involved the staff and users of these organisations, and a geographically linked sample of NHS mental health professionals. Interview data indicated that the voluntary sector users and staff held similarly positive views of the appropriately varied forms and functions of the provided social support, and all participants held unusually similar and positive views of their links, although areas for improvement were suggested by both groups (e.g. links to GPs).
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McAnaney
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pollinger
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fewster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*