Smarter working in social and health care: Professional perspectives on a new technology for risk appraisal with older people

Jill Manthorpe, Kalpa Kharicha, Claire Goodman, Danielle Harari, Cameron Swift, Steve Iliffe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is growing emphasis on prevention, personalisation and self-care or active citizenship in England. This paper reports on the Smarter Working in Social care & Health (SWISH) study of the development of an information technology system that allows older people to assess their own health and to receive personalised feedback and considers the implications for social work practice and commissioning. The study took place in two London areas (2005-7). Its objectives were 1) to refine a method to improve access to information and services, and to identify older people at risk, and 2) to examine the potential of the method to enrich public sector information and to profile local populations to inform local commissioners. A multi-method approach consolidated findings from focus groups and interviews with older people and professionals. Under the first objective, views were mixed. The existing health risk assessment tool was seen as comprehensive, with the capacity to identify low-level risks to well-being, although possibly burdensome. Under the second objective, social workers and managers were uncertain how to make use of local population data and to the capacity of local resources to meet information needs. Messages for practitioners and managers are drawn.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1829-1846
Number of pages18
JournalBritish Journal of Social Work
Volume40
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2010

Keywords

  • Older people
  • needs assessment
  • community development

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