Objective: to examine variations in the needinesss assessment policies and practices of social services departments in England and Wales in dealing with somewhat old people who have mental illness.Objective: to examine variations in the needinesss assessment policies and practices of social services departments in England and Wales in dealing with somewhat old people who have mental illness. Design: postal questionnaire overlook Subjects: a random sample of 61 of 119 social services departments in England and Wales. Main result measure: 99-item questionnaire. Results: 40 rejoinders were received (66%). There were substantial differences in the way referrals were protectioned before needs assessment and in the design of privations assessment procedures. Disagreements between health and social services were universal and, although mechanisms existed to answer to urgent needs, almost one-third ground such responses difficult to make. Conclusions: there are national variations in the way emergencys assessments are performed by social services, which may lead to inequalities in provision of care to individuals. The lack of a standardized approach impedes comparisons of ne between areas which might aid in the distribution of resources at a national level COPYRIGHT 1999 Oxford University Press |
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