An Audit of Assessment and Reporting by Approved Social Workers (ASWs)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10896742 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gavin Davidson (0000-0001-6003-0170, Queen's University Belfast, corresponding author), Jim Campbell (0000-0002-2702-1122, Queen's University Belfast) |
| Year | 2010 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 1609-1627 |
| Publication date | 2010-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/bjsw/bcp060 |
| OpenAlex | W2135789801 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 11 |
| References cited | 29 |
This paper examines the routine practice of Approved Social Workers (ASWs) in adult mental health services in Northern Ireland. It begins with a review of existing literature on the ASW role before describing how a retrospective audit, using a mixed methods approach, was used to collect data on eighty-four assessments carried out to determine whether compulsory admission to hospital was needed. Respondents were also asked to consider how such assessments might be affected by proposed changes to the law in this field. The key findings highlighted a number of areas of practice that may be improved. There were inconsistencies in how the assessments were recorded and an uneven distribution of workloads across ASWs. Some problems were identified with inter-agency working and, in a quarter of the assessments, the ASW reported having felt afraid or at risk. The authors make a number of recommendations, which include: the use of a standard reporting procedure; that organisations should consider how to deliver a more even distribution of ASW workload; that protocols should be developed that ensure that ASWs are not left alone in potentially risky situations; and that joint assessments with General Practitioners should be required, rather than just recommended.
Audit · Criminology · Management · Media studies · Northern ireland · Political science · Queen (butterfly) · Social policy · Sociology · Healthcare innovation and challenges · Homelessness and Social Issues · Law · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work
Engaging Community Support in Safeguarding Adults from Self-Neglect
Exploring the roles of public health social workers—A rapid review
Experiences of involuntary psychiatric admission decision-making
A Hidden Dynamic
Approved Mental Health Professionals and Detention
Power as Perceived in MHA Assessment Contexts
Decision Making by Practitioners in the Social Professions Involved in Compulsory Admission to Mental Health Hospital
Social workers’ perceptions and experiences on the psychiatric disease mandatory assessment review committee
Role Over’ or Roll Over? Dirty Work, Shift and Mental Health Act Assessments
The Decision by Approved Mental Health Professionals to Use Compulsory Powers under the Mental Health Act 1983
The Mental Health Act Assessment Process and Risk Factors for Compulsory Admission to Psychiatric Hospital
Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health social workers in England and Wales
Qualitative Data Analysis in Health Psychology
The 1983 Mental Health Act in Five Local Authorities
The management and supervision of Approved Social Workers
Detention under the Mental Health Act
Stakeholders' views of legal and advice services for people admitted to psychiatric hospital
Powers to Detain under Mental Health Legislation in England and the Role of the Approved Social Worker
The Experience and Practice of Approved Social Workers in Northern Ireland
Family Matters
Stress and Pressures in Mental Health Social Work
An Examination of the Use of Coercion by Assertive Outreach and Community Mental Health Teams in Northern Ireland
The Effect of Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment on Assessments under the 1983 Mental Health Act
A National Survey of Approved Social Workers in the UK
Multidisciplinary Reflections on Assessment for Compulsory Admission
Risk, Mental Disorder and Social Work Practice
Stress in Social Services
Consistencies and Inconsistencies
The Impact of Audit on Social Work Practice
International Perspectives on the Use of Community Treatment Orders
| Unique citing works | 11 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,79 |
| Citation span | 2012 - 2025 (14) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 11 |