Variations in care management arrangements for people with mental health problems in England.
Since 1989, government policy in the United Kingdom has advocated that social services providers develop care management systems in order to deliver coordinated and individually tailored packages of care to all user groups. This cross-sectional postal survey describes national variations in care management arrangements for people with mental health problems in England on 14 key indicators developed from previous research. One hundred and one social services providers (response rate: 77%) completed two questionnaires: The first related to care management arrangements for all user groups, and the second related specifically to arrangements for people with mental health problems. Significant national variation was found. Furthermore, there was little evidence of integration between health and social care, of care management being delivered through specialist multidisciplinary mental health teams, and of selective arrangements targeted at those most in need. The results are discussed in the context of apparently widespread disparity between existing care management arrangements and government policy guidance.
Venables
Dan
D
Personal Social Services Research Unit, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, UK. Daniel.Venables@manchester.ac.uk
Hughes
Jane
J
Stewart
Karen
K
Challis
David
D
D019090:Case Management; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration