Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to crimina... more Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The world of social work is not a static system but one that is always evolving. This book is designed to explore the elements that have influenced and continue to influence that evolutionary process: policy, law, theory and research all contribute to the end product-what the frontline social worker does in practice. One of the best pieces of advice I was given when I was an undergraduate at Liverpool University was: Always remember when you are reading an academic textbook, it is not like a detective story. You are not meant to read it steadily through from page 1 to page 267. Rather, you should 'manage' it in such a way that it serves your own personal interests. This advice is especially appropriate for this book. It has a strong internal structure that enables it to be used in different ways depending on what each reader wants. First, this book can be used in order to explore any or all of the four topics that are introduced-the personalization agenda, mental health, substance use or old age. The four parts provide comprehensive coverage of each subject. The reader who approaches it in this way will quickly experience the differences in background and style between the authors who write on the five academic spheres. Policy, law, theory and research each have their own intellectual heritage, and these are well reflected in the various contributions to this book. The practice chapters, by contrast, are down to earth and tell a number of reallife stories. By following the advice of my erstwhile teacher in Liverpool, the reader could usefully read each practice chapter first before turning to the weightier material that, in chapter order, precedes it. Ask yourself, then, how does the policy, law, theory or research material relate to the real world of practice that my authors have recorded for you? A second approach that I myself tackled with fascination is to read in sequence all four chapters on each of the five relevant spheres-policy, law, theory, research, practice. For example, you can ask yourself: What are the similarities and differences between the theoretical perspectives that are outlined in respect of the four fields of social work-personalization, mental health, substance use and old age? You will find some similarities and some clear differences in each of the spheres. For example, in the sphere of law, the author of Chapter 17 begins by saying 'there is no body of law separately identifiable as relating exclusively to older people', which cannot be said in respect of mental illness. Alternatively, a concentrated reading of all four practice chapters will give the reader an illuminating glimpse of the challenges that confront the social worker every day-and how they are being tackled. A third approach to the book, as with all academic works of reference, is simply to go to one or more chapters in order to receive an up-to-date, state-of-the-art précis of where our subject is at in the second decade of the twenty-first century. For example, with an essay to write on the emergence of the personalization agenda, the recovery model in mental health, the feasibility of therapeutic intervention in cases of substance use, or the challenge of an ageing society, you would be home and dry. Well, almost! Each author has provided a note about three books or papers suggested as being suitable 'for further reading'; if you tackle those with an inquiring mind, you really will be able to call yourself an up-to-date expert in that field. You should bear in mind that this book has a companion volume, Social Work with Children and Families, which has an identical internal structure, covering family support, child protection, adoption and fostering, and residential child care. By using the two books together, you will get a synoptic view of eight different areas of contemporary social work practice. There may be a growing distance between the various specialist fields in social work, but the work that is done shares many common features, and the two books together accurately reflect the extent to which poverty remains a powerful common factor in the majority of cases. The authors of this book and its companion volume are based in all parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This wholly desirable fact has, however, presented the editor with a problem-especially in respect of the policy and law chapters. There are some clear and many slight differences in legislation and policy to be found in the five countries, and if this had been designed as a comprehensive textbook, they would have had to be punctiliously identified. But, as I explain in the Introduction, the book is not intended to cover every aspect of social work. My interest and, I hope, that of the book's readers is concentrated on the conceptual differences between policy, law, theory, research and practice-and these are capable of intelligent interpretation, whatever the national context to which they apply. Martin Davies Policy, law, theory, research-they all contribute to our understanding of the nature of the work done by the social worker in practice. But, conversely, without some exploration of the reality of practice, policy, law, theory and research are of no more intellectual significance than the solving of a crossword puzzle. So what is the nature of social work practice in the twenty-first century? So far as work with adults is concerned, the evidence is quite clear: ■ Social workers are employed very largely in the public sector. They put government-defined policy into practice, adapting their approach as policy evolves. Their objectives are the objectives of their employer: they can be varied and complex, but often they revolve around the concepts of risk, resilience and/or recovery, although the language employed may vary in different contexts. ■ They specialize in trying to see the whole picture-working 'holistically', if you like. They acknowledge the power of intergenerational factors; they recognize the impact of the social and physical environment on service users' lives; and, when necessary, they work with professionals from other disciplines in order to achieve their specified objectives. ■ They operate within a framework of legislation and system procedures, interpreting them according to their professional value base. ■ They function within a framework of available resources. In our accounts of social work, there are elements of assessment, welfare guidance, counselling, gatekeeping, policing and therapeutic intervention. But the primary focus is on the attempt to enable service users to gain or regain control over their own fortunes. As Leah says in Chapter 10: 'It is part of a social worker's role and responsibility to enable service users to believe in a better future and to assist them to identify and make the changes they want to happen.'
IntroductionPolicy drivers in mental health to address personal recovery, stigma and poor physica... more IntroductionPolicy drivers in mental health to address personal recovery, stigma and poor physical health indicate that new service solutions are required. This study aimed to understand how connections to people, places and activities were utilised by individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) to benefit health and wellbeing.MethodsA five-module mixed-methods design was undertaken in two study sites. Data were collected from 150 network-mapping interviews and 41 in-depth follow-up interviews with people with SMI; in-depth interviews with 30 organisation stakeholders and 12 organisation leaders; and 44 telephone interviews with practitioners. We undertook a three-stage synthesis process including independent lived experience feedback, and a patient and public involvement team participated in tool design, data collection, analysis and write-up.ResultsThree personal network types were found in our study using the community health network approach: diverse and active; family and stab...
With thanks to Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust and their staff for their support in the... more With thanks to Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust and their staff for their support in the production of this booklet and permission to use their photographs. Supporting your colleagues For many of us, work is a major part of our lives. It is where we spend much of our time, where we may have most contact with other people, where we make our money and where we sometimes make our friends. Having a fulfilling job is good for your mental health and general wellbeing. We all go through tough times and work can help us cope or make us feel worse. Someone you work with may be feeling the distress that comes with life events such as the loss of someone close. They may say they are at the end of their tether, but feel unable to take time off. Or they may be experiencing panic attacks or a mental health problem like depression, whether or not they have had it diagnosed by a doctor. 'Emotional crisis', 'nervous breakdown' or 'mental health problem'-we may describe these experiences very differently, but the important thing is that there are ways that, as colleagues, we can help.
BackgroundPrevious research suggests that social workers experience high levels of stress and bur... more BackgroundPrevious research suggests that social workers experience high levels of stress and burnout but most remain committed to their work.AimsTo examine the prevalence of stress and burnout, and job satisfaction among mental health social workers (MHSWs) and the factors responsible for this.MethodA postal survey incorporating the General Health Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Karasek Job Content Questionnaire and a job satisfaction measure was sent to 610 MHSWs in England and Wales.ResultsEligible respondents (n=237) reported high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion and low levels of job satisfaction; 111 (47%) showed significant symptomatology and distress, which is twice the level reported by similar surveys of psychiatrists. Feeling undervalued at work, excessive job demands, limited latitude in decision-making, and unhappiness about the place of MHSWs in modern services contributed to the poor job satisfaction and most aspects of burnout. Those who had approv...
There is increasing evidence to suggest that the application of knowledge in low and middle-incom... more There is increasing evidence to suggest that the application of knowledge in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) is failing, that a gap exists between what is known from research and what is done to apply it. Despite widespread agreement that the application of evidence is needed, there are few published studies of how to effectively translate knowledge of social interventions, particularly those aimed at improving outcomes for mental health populations. To address this gap we assessed knowledge translation of social interventions for adults with mental health problems across economic boundaries using a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature. This review aimed to identify the extent of translational research available and to explore the effectiveness of different strategies and interventions. Studies were included if they translated knowledge between richer and poorer countries and reported a social component (as opposed to purely health) which aimed to improve social outcomes for adults with mental health problems. Our findings provide evidence for the successful translation of locally adapted social interventions to LMIC, though the specific knowledge translation mechanisms varied greatly. With only 23 studies meeting inclusion criteria for this review, further investigation is needed to ascertain the conditions surrounding knowledge translation of social interventions globally.
His research interests are in social inclusion, social capital and mental health social work, wit... more His research interests are in social inclusion, social capital and mental health social work, with a particular interest in the development and evaluation of interventions that improve social, as well as health, outcomes. He is co-editor of Reflective Practice in Mental Health: Advanced Psychosocial Practice with Children, Adolescents and Adults (Jessica Kingsley, 2010, with Jack Nathan) and author of Evidence-Based Policy and Practice in Mental Health Social Work (2nd edn, Learning Matters, 2011), both aimed at supporting the professional development of advanced social work practitioners. Karen Robinson worked for nearly a decade in adult education. She had obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for over thirty years, but delayed twenty-four years before seeking help from the mental health service. She subsequently trained, and has worked, as a service user researcher. She has also worked to support the involvement of service users and carers in a social work programme. Drawing on her personal experience of OCD and cognitive behavioural therapy, she contributes to the training of mental health professionals. She is currently working on a three-year research project: 'Seeking help and receiving appropriate treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder'.
There is a vicious circle of resistance to developing research capacity in social work. Practitio... more There is a vicious circle of resistance to developing research capacity in social work. Practitioners receive minimal research methods teaching on qualifying programmes which contributes to a low value being placed upon research skills within social work agencies. There are few opportunities to acquire these skills on post-qualifying social work programmes which means that practitioners who go on to become educators possess limited research expertise, thus perpetuating the problem. Increasing the research competence of practitioners may be one way to transform this circle into a virtuous one. We developed two e-learning courses to increase the research literacy of social work practitioners and this paper evaluates a pilot of the second of these, a research protocol writing short course. We compared an e-learning group (n=6) with a classroom group (n=12) using mixed methods. In this pilot, e-learning appeared to be just as effective as providing this training within an advanced-level...
Loneliness and social isolation have become significant concerns in many countries, particularly ... more Loneliness and social isolation have become significant concerns in many countries, particularly amongst people experiencing mental health problems. A social intervention—Connecting People—has been found to increase their access to social capital, though it has been difficult to implement with high fidelity in community mental health teams (CMHTs) in England. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes for mental health service users of a practitioner-led implementation of Connecting People in CMHTs. It used a pragmatic non-randomised two-group pre-post study to evaluate the implementation process in CMHTs. Implementation materials co-produced with service users were provided to the intervention teams for practitioners to use with the support of a senior social worker in each mental health National Health Service Trust (n = 5). Service users were interviewed at baseline (n = 151) and at six-month follow-up (n = 127), and their outcome and cost data were analysed on an intention-to-treat b...
[email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Reuse Items deposited in White Rose Rese... more [email protected]https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Reuse Items deposited in White Rose Research Online are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved unless indicated otherwise. They may be downloaded and/or printed for private study, or other acts as permitted by national copyright laws. The publisher or other rights holders may allow further reproduction and re-use of the full text version. This is indicated by the licence information on the White Rose Research Online record for the item.
The efficacy of crisis planning in mental health services is contested. As recovery and self-mana... more The efficacy of crisis planning in mental health services is contested. As recovery and self-management are core to Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services and the Care Programme Approach (CPA), the views of EIP practitioners of the most useful aspects of crisis planning can inform this vital aspect of practice. We conducted a mixed methods study using a national cross-sectional survey (n = 70) and semi-structured interviews (n = 12) with EIP practitioners in England in 2019. Data were analysed using non-parametric tests and thematic analysis. A Joint Crisis Plan (JCP) template was used as a benchmark to judge current practice by (Sutherby et al., 1999; Henderson et al., 2004; Thornicroft et al., 2013). The most useful crisis plan themes identified by practitioners included early warning signs, triggers and helpful treatments, although not all elements were considered useful. Additionally, the interviews identified that collaboration with clients, carers and other services; personalisation; and self-management were all considered important in effective crisis planning. The practitioners also identified barriers to effective crisis planning, such as the electronic records system, lack of time and lack of available service provision. The research highlighted the important aspects of EIP and was significant in impacting the service and wider EIP network further. While crisis planning is a significant part of EIP, it does not appear to be consistently applied in practice. Fully implementing collaborative crisis planning in EIP services may require changes to policy, practice and local systems to ensure that crisis planning is as effective as possible.
In India, cardiovascular disease (CVD), with hypertension as its foremost risk factor, has the hi... more In India, cardiovascular disease (CVD), with hypertension as its foremost risk factor, has the highest prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and a rising mortality. Previous research has found a clustering of behavioural and social risks pertaining to NCDs, though the latter are infrequently addressed in public health interventions in India. This paper reaches toward the development of a social intervention to address social determinants of NCD relating to hypertension and diabetes. We used Theory of Change (ToC) as a theoretical approach to programme design. Mixed methods were used, including qualitative interviews with community members (n = 20), Accredited Social Health Activists (n = 6) and health professionals (n = 8), and a stakeholder workshop (n = 5 participants). The recruitment of participants from one local area in Kerala enabled us to map service provision and gain a holistic understanding of how to utilise the existing workforce to target social risk facto...
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in India. Social and be... more Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in India. Social and behavioural factors are strongly interrelated in the prevention and control of CVD. The ability to make lifestyle changes to control hypertension and diabetes (major risk factors for CVD) is determined by factors such as education, gender, caste, poverty, and urbanicity. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the inter-relationship of social and behavioural factors in the management of elevated serum glucose and high blood pressure and co-morbid mental health conditions. Methods A population-based catchment area cross sectional survey was conducted in Kerala, India. Data were collected from residents aged over 30 years (n = 997) using standardized tools and clinical measures. We performed latent class analysis incrementally to extract homogeneous latent classes of individuals based on their responses to social and behavioural risk factors in the survey. Using structural equation ...
Background People with psychosis experience more social isolation than any other diagnostic group... more Background People with psychosis experience more social isolation than any other diagnostic group and have smaller social networks than the general population. This isolation can have a detrimental effect on quality of life. No direct, standardised interventions have been developed to specifically target this issue. Stakeholders input appears crucial in the process of developing such an intervention. This study aimed to identify the main considerations when developing an intervention aiming to reduce social isolation in people with psychosis. Methods Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with patients, carers and mental health staff. Data was thematically analysed. Results Thirty four patients with psychosis, 26 carers of people experiencing psychosis and 22 mental health professionals participated in the study. Suggested aspects to be considered in a novel intervention were: i) finding and training the right staff member; ii) discussing negative social attitudes and...
Background: Evidence-based strategies for treating mental health conditions need to be scaled up ... more Background: Evidence-based strategies for treating mental health conditions need to be scaled up to address the mental health treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries. Most medical and psychological interventions for the treatment of mental health conditions have been developed and evaluated in high-income countries. However, the imperative of scaling up such interventions potentially ignores local realities, and may also discredit or replace local frameworks for responding to distress. Aims: This article aims to develop a framework for the cultural adaptation of social interventions which are developed within, and draw upon, local contexts, to ensure they are acceptable, feasible and effective. Method: A case study approach is used to discuss the feasibility of developing and adapting psychosocial interventions which are embedded in local knowledge, values and practices. Results: The first case study introduces yoga as an alternative and/or complementary, and culturally re...
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to crimina... more Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The world of social work is not a static system but one that is always evolving. This book is designed to explore the elements that have influenced and continue to influence that evolutionary process: policy, law, theory and research all contribute to the end product-what the frontline social worker does in practice. One of the best pieces of advice I was given when I was an undergraduate at Liverpool University was: Always remember when you are reading an academic textbook, it is not like a detective story. You are not meant to read it steadily through from page 1 to page 267. Rather, you should 'manage' it in such a way that it serves your own personal interests. This advice is especially appropriate for this book. It has a strong internal structure that enables it to be used in different ways depending on what each reader wants. First, this book can be used in order to explore any or all of the four topics that are introduced-the personalization agenda, mental health, substance use or old age. The four parts provide comprehensive coverage of each subject. The reader who approaches it in this way will quickly experience the differences in background and style between the authors who write on the five academic spheres. Policy, law, theory and research each have their own intellectual heritage, and these are well reflected in the various contributions to this book. The practice chapters, by contrast, are down to earth and tell a number of reallife stories. By following the advice of my erstwhile teacher in Liverpool, the reader could usefully read each practice chapter first before turning to the weightier material that, in chapter order, precedes it. Ask yourself, then, how does the policy, law, theory or research material relate to the real world of practice that my authors have recorded for you? A second approach that I myself tackled with fascination is to read in sequence all four chapters on each of the five relevant spheres-policy, law, theory, research, practice. For example, you can ask yourself: What are the similarities and differences between the theoretical perspectives that are outlined in respect of the four fields of social work-personalization, mental health, substance use and old age? You will find some similarities and some clear differences in each of the spheres. For example, in the sphere of law, the author of Chapter 17 begins by saying 'there is no body of law separately identifiable as relating exclusively to older people', which cannot be said in respect of mental illness. Alternatively, a concentrated reading of all four practice chapters will give the reader an illuminating glimpse of the challenges that confront the social worker every day-and how they are being tackled. A third approach to the book, as with all academic works of reference, is simply to go to one or more chapters in order to receive an up-to-date, state-of-the-art précis of where our subject is at in the second decade of the twenty-first century. For example, with an essay to write on the emergence of the personalization agenda, the recovery model in mental health, the feasibility of therapeutic intervention in cases of substance use, or the challenge of an ageing society, you would be home and dry. Well, almost! Each author has provided a note about three books or papers suggested as being suitable 'for further reading'; if you tackle those with an inquiring mind, you really will be able to call yourself an up-to-date expert in that field. You should bear in mind that this book has a companion volume, Social Work with Children and Families, which has an identical internal structure, covering family support, child protection, adoption and fostering, and residential child care. By using the two books together, you will get a synoptic view of eight different areas of contemporary social work practice. There may be a growing distance between the various specialist fields in social work, but the work that is done shares many common features, and the two books together accurately reflect the extent to which poverty remains a powerful common factor in the majority of cases. The authors of this book and its companion volume are based in all parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This wholly desirable fact has, however, presented the editor with a problem-especially in respect of the policy and law chapters. There are some clear and many slight differences in legislation and policy to be found in the five countries, and if this had been designed as a comprehensive textbook, they would have had to be punctiliously identified. But, as I explain in the Introduction, the book is not intended to cover every aspect of social work. My interest and, I hope, that of the book's readers is concentrated on the conceptual differences between policy, law, theory, research and practice-and these are capable of intelligent interpretation, whatever the national context to which they apply. Martin Davies Policy, law, theory, research-they all contribute to our understanding of the nature of the work done by the social worker in practice. But, conversely, without some exploration of the reality of practice, policy, law, theory and research are of no more intellectual significance than the solving of a crossword puzzle. So what is the nature of social work practice in the twenty-first century? So far as work with adults is concerned, the evidence is quite clear: ■ Social workers are employed very largely in the public sector. They put government-defined policy into practice, adapting their approach as policy evolves. Their objectives are the objectives of their employer: they can be varied and complex, but often they revolve around the concepts of risk, resilience and/or recovery, although the language employed may vary in different contexts. ■ They specialize in trying to see the whole picture-working 'holistically', if you like. They acknowledge the power of intergenerational factors; they recognize the impact of the social and physical environment on service users' lives; and, when necessary, they work with professionals from other disciplines in order to achieve their specified objectives. ■ They operate within a framework of legislation and system procedures, interpreting them according to their professional value base. ■ They function within a framework of available resources. In our accounts of social work, there are elements of assessment, welfare guidance, counselling, gatekeeping, policing and therapeutic intervention. But the primary focus is on the attempt to enable service users to gain or regain control over their own fortunes. As Leah says in Chapter 10: 'It is part of a social worker's role and responsibility to enable service users to believe in a better future and to assist them to identify and make the changes they want to happen.'
IntroductionPolicy drivers in mental health to address personal recovery, stigma and poor physica... more IntroductionPolicy drivers in mental health to address personal recovery, stigma and poor physical health indicate that new service solutions are required. This study aimed to understand how connections to people, places and activities were utilised by individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) to benefit health and wellbeing.MethodsA five-module mixed-methods design was undertaken in two study sites. Data were collected from 150 network-mapping interviews and 41 in-depth follow-up interviews with people with SMI; in-depth interviews with 30 organisation stakeholders and 12 organisation leaders; and 44 telephone interviews with practitioners. We undertook a three-stage synthesis process including independent lived experience feedback, and a patient and public involvement team participated in tool design, data collection, analysis and write-up.ResultsThree personal network types were found in our study using the community health network approach: diverse and active; family and stab...
With thanks to Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust and their staff for their support in the... more With thanks to Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust and their staff for their support in the production of this booklet and permission to use their photographs. Supporting your colleagues For many of us, work is a major part of our lives. It is where we spend much of our time, where we may have most contact with other people, where we make our money and where we sometimes make our friends. Having a fulfilling job is good for your mental health and general wellbeing. We all go through tough times and work can help us cope or make us feel worse. Someone you work with may be feeling the distress that comes with life events such as the loss of someone close. They may say they are at the end of their tether, but feel unable to take time off. Or they may be experiencing panic attacks or a mental health problem like depression, whether or not they have had it diagnosed by a doctor. 'Emotional crisis', 'nervous breakdown' or 'mental health problem'-we may describe these experiences very differently, but the important thing is that there are ways that, as colleagues, we can help.
BackgroundPrevious research suggests that social workers experience high levels of stress and bur... more BackgroundPrevious research suggests that social workers experience high levels of stress and burnout but most remain committed to their work.AimsTo examine the prevalence of stress and burnout, and job satisfaction among mental health social workers (MHSWs) and the factors responsible for this.MethodA postal survey incorporating the General Health Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Karasek Job Content Questionnaire and a job satisfaction measure was sent to 610 MHSWs in England and Wales.ResultsEligible respondents (n=237) reported high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion and low levels of job satisfaction; 111 (47%) showed significant symptomatology and distress, which is twice the level reported by similar surveys of psychiatrists. Feeling undervalued at work, excessive job demands, limited latitude in decision-making, and unhappiness about the place of MHSWs in modern services contributed to the poor job satisfaction and most aspects of burnout. Those who had approv...
There is increasing evidence to suggest that the application of knowledge in low and middle-incom... more There is increasing evidence to suggest that the application of knowledge in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) is failing, that a gap exists between what is known from research and what is done to apply it. Despite widespread agreement that the application of evidence is needed, there are few published studies of how to effectively translate knowledge of social interventions, particularly those aimed at improving outcomes for mental health populations. To address this gap we assessed knowledge translation of social interventions for adults with mental health problems across economic boundaries using a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature. This review aimed to identify the extent of translational research available and to explore the effectiveness of different strategies and interventions. Studies were included if they translated knowledge between richer and poorer countries and reported a social component (as opposed to purely health) which aimed to improve social outcomes for adults with mental health problems. Our findings provide evidence for the successful translation of locally adapted social interventions to LMIC, though the specific knowledge translation mechanisms varied greatly. With only 23 studies meeting inclusion criteria for this review, further investigation is needed to ascertain the conditions surrounding knowledge translation of social interventions globally.
His research interests are in social inclusion, social capital and mental health social work, wit... more His research interests are in social inclusion, social capital and mental health social work, with a particular interest in the development and evaluation of interventions that improve social, as well as health, outcomes. He is co-editor of Reflective Practice in Mental Health: Advanced Psychosocial Practice with Children, Adolescents and Adults (Jessica Kingsley, 2010, with Jack Nathan) and author of Evidence-Based Policy and Practice in Mental Health Social Work (2nd edn, Learning Matters, 2011), both aimed at supporting the professional development of advanced social work practitioners. Karen Robinson worked for nearly a decade in adult education. She had obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for over thirty years, but delayed twenty-four years before seeking help from the mental health service. She subsequently trained, and has worked, as a service user researcher. She has also worked to support the involvement of service users and carers in a social work programme. Drawing on her personal experience of OCD and cognitive behavioural therapy, she contributes to the training of mental health professionals. She is currently working on a three-year research project: 'Seeking help and receiving appropriate treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder'.
There is a vicious circle of resistance to developing research capacity in social work. Practitio... more There is a vicious circle of resistance to developing research capacity in social work. Practitioners receive minimal research methods teaching on qualifying programmes which contributes to a low value being placed upon research skills within social work agencies. There are few opportunities to acquire these skills on post-qualifying social work programmes which means that practitioners who go on to become educators possess limited research expertise, thus perpetuating the problem. Increasing the research competence of practitioners may be one way to transform this circle into a virtuous one. We developed two e-learning courses to increase the research literacy of social work practitioners and this paper evaluates a pilot of the second of these, a research protocol writing short course. We compared an e-learning group (n=6) with a classroom group (n=12) using mixed methods. In this pilot, e-learning appeared to be just as effective as providing this training within an advanced-level...
Loneliness and social isolation have become significant concerns in many countries, particularly ... more Loneliness and social isolation have become significant concerns in many countries, particularly amongst people experiencing mental health problems. A social intervention—Connecting People—has been found to increase their access to social capital, though it has been difficult to implement with high fidelity in community mental health teams (CMHTs) in England. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes for mental health service users of a practitioner-led implementation of Connecting People in CMHTs. It used a pragmatic non-randomised two-group pre-post study to evaluate the implementation process in CMHTs. Implementation materials co-produced with service users were provided to the intervention teams for practitioners to use with the support of a senior social worker in each mental health National Health Service Trust (n = 5). Service users were interviewed at baseline (n = 151) and at six-month follow-up (n = 127), and their outcome and cost data were analysed on an intention-to-treat b...
[email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Reuse Items deposited in White Rose Rese... more [email protected]https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Reuse Items deposited in White Rose Research Online are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved unless indicated otherwise. They may be downloaded and/or printed for private study, or other acts as permitted by national copyright laws. The publisher or other rights holders may allow further reproduction and re-use of the full text version. This is indicated by the licence information on the White Rose Research Online record for the item.
The efficacy of crisis planning in mental health services is contested. As recovery and self-mana... more The efficacy of crisis planning in mental health services is contested. As recovery and self-management are core to Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services and the Care Programme Approach (CPA), the views of EIP practitioners of the most useful aspects of crisis planning can inform this vital aspect of practice. We conducted a mixed methods study using a national cross-sectional survey (n = 70) and semi-structured interviews (n = 12) with EIP practitioners in England in 2019. Data were analysed using non-parametric tests and thematic analysis. A Joint Crisis Plan (JCP) template was used as a benchmark to judge current practice by (Sutherby et al., 1999; Henderson et al., 2004; Thornicroft et al., 2013). The most useful crisis plan themes identified by practitioners included early warning signs, triggers and helpful treatments, although not all elements were considered useful. Additionally, the interviews identified that collaboration with clients, carers and other services; personalisation; and self-management were all considered important in effective crisis planning. The practitioners also identified barriers to effective crisis planning, such as the electronic records system, lack of time and lack of available service provision. The research highlighted the important aspects of EIP and was significant in impacting the service and wider EIP network further. While crisis planning is a significant part of EIP, it does not appear to be consistently applied in practice. Fully implementing collaborative crisis planning in EIP services may require changes to policy, practice and local systems to ensure that crisis planning is as effective as possible.
In India, cardiovascular disease (CVD), with hypertension as its foremost risk factor, has the hi... more In India, cardiovascular disease (CVD), with hypertension as its foremost risk factor, has the highest prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and a rising mortality. Previous research has found a clustering of behavioural and social risks pertaining to NCDs, though the latter are infrequently addressed in public health interventions in India. This paper reaches toward the development of a social intervention to address social determinants of NCD relating to hypertension and diabetes. We used Theory of Change (ToC) as a theoretical approach to programme design. Mixed methods were used, including qualitative interviews with community members (n = 20), Accredited Social Health Activists (n = 6) and health professionals (n = 8), and a stakeholder workshop (n = 5 participants). The recruitment of participants from one local area in Kerala enabled us to map service provision and gain a holistic understanding of how to utilise the existing workforce to target social risk facto...
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in India. Social and be... more Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in India. Social and behavioural factors are strongly interrelated in the prevention and control of CVD. The ability to make lifestyle changes to control hypertension and diabetes (major risk factors for CVD) is determined by factors such as education, gender, caste, poverty, and urbanicity. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the inter-relationship of social and behavioural factors in the management of elevated serum glucose and high blood pressure and co-morbid mental health conditions. Methods A population-based catchment area cross sectional survey was conducted in Kerala, India. Data were collected from residents aged over 30 years (n = 997) using standardized tools and clinical measures. We performed latent class analysis incrementally to extract homogeneous latent classes of individuals based on their responses to social and behavioural risk factors in the survey. Using structural equation ...
Background People with psychosis experience more social isolation than any other diagnostic group... more Background People with psychosis experience more social isolation than any other diagnostic group and have smaller social networks than the general population. This isolation can have a detrimental effect on quality of life. No direct, standardised interventions have been developed to specifically target this issue. Stakeholders input appears crucial in the process of developing such an intervention. This study aimed to identify the main considerations when developing an intervention aiming to reduce social isolation in people with psychosis. Methods Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with patients, carers and mental health staff. Data was thematically analysed. Results Thirty four patients with psychosis, 26 carers of people experiencing psychosis and 22 mental health professionals participated in the study. Suggested aspects to be considered in a novel intervention were: i) finding and training the right staff member; ii) discussing negative social attitudes and...
Background: Evidence-based strategies for treating mental health conditions need to be scaled up ... more Background: Evidence-based strategies for treating mental health conditions need to be scaled up to address the mental health treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries. Most medical and psychological interventions for the treatment of mental health conditions have been developed and evaluated in high-income countries. However, the imperative of scaling up such interventions potentially ignores local realities, and may also discredit or replace local frameworks for responding to distress. Aims: This article aims to develop a framework for the cultural adaptation of social interventions which are developed within, and draw upon, local contexts, to ensure they are acceptable, feasible and effective. Method: A case study approach is used to discuss the feasibility of developing and adapting psychosocial interventions which are embedded in local knowledge, values and practices. Results: The first case study introduces yoga as an alternative and/or complementary, and culturally re...
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Papers by Martin Webber