The beginning of something new?

Abstract

Abstract This paper explores some of the moves to establish inter-professional cooperation and joint planning in the delivery of services to people who are mentally handicapped. The shift to provide community care reflects on the one hand a fiscal and moralising strategy of the British Government and, on the other a commitment by nurses and social workers to a practice philosophy based on social scientific ideas about the dysfunctions of institutional care. Much of the momentum for new forms of practice has come from the national bodies responsible for the training of these professionals who have made a significant attempt to establish joint training initiatives. Though this is slowly occurring and although official reports have pointed to the need for a national planning strategy for community care, the response from government has so far been muted.