Social work's contribution to integrated primary health care teams in the UK for older adults with complex needs

Abstract

PurposeThis study examined the contribution of adult social work in integrated teams in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe study design was realist, evaluation research using a mixed methods approach. Data collection methods included interviews and focus groups. Types of social work activities were extracted from older adults' case records and used to calculate costs of care. The presence or absence of indicators of care quality was recorded using the same sample of case records. Data were collected from three primary care teams in which social work was integrated. They were compared with data from three social-work-only teams in the same districts. Narrative data was analysed thematically. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to compare costs and care quality.FindingsWhen social work was embedded or attached to a primary care team, costs of care delivery were lower than in their social-work-only team and more indicators of good quality care outcomes were recorded. Results suggest that embedding social work in integrated primary care teams contributes to cost-effective, quality care for older people if certain conditions for integration are met.Originality/valueThis is the first study to triangulate three data sources to quantify the social work contribution to integrated primary health care teams for older adults.