Author: Dickinson A
Journal: Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2006
Volume/pages: Vol 20(4), pp365-379

About the study
This qualitative study evaluated the impact of local implementation of the Single Assessment Process (SAP) in one Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the South East of England. The author used observation and semi-structured interviews to explore: the impact of the policy on health and social care practitioners; the way in which implementation was managed; and the effectiveness of the assessment tools. Twenty-six health and social care professionals, and nine service users and carers took part in interviews; and sixteen assessments were either recorded or observed directly.

Findings
A number of important findings were identified; just some of these are described here. Staff who felt supported by their management tended to use the tools and begin to embed the SAP in their practice, while practitioners with less management support did not. As staff had not been involved in the development of the tools, a lack of ownership was another important factor in creating reluctance to engage. There was some criticism of the tools, but perhaps more importantly there was concern around the lack of guidance on how to use them.

Key messages

• There are a number of important barriers and facilitators to the effective implementation of integrated health and social care which must be addressed when considering moving to an integrated approach
• At all stages of the development and implementation of any model of integrated working there needs to be active involvement of, and communication with, those practitioners who will be asked to change the way they work