TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges and benefits in implementing shared inter-agency assessment across the UK
T2 - a literature review
AU - Miller, Emma
AU - Cameron , Kirsteen
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Over the past 10 years, each of the four countries in the UK has attempted to resolve continuing difficulties with duplication of assessment and lack of shared information in community care, by developing approaches to shared assessment. Relevant literature reviews have previously focused on challenges to partnership working between health and social care, and on different approaches to assessment. The literature review described here differs in three key respects. Firstly, the literature was selected on the basis that it addressed shared assessment specifically. Secondly, it included evidence from the four countries within the UK, providing a cross-national basis to the evidence. Thirdly, this study was undertaken to identify whether benefits from shared assessment were evident, in addition to the challenges. While the evidence of benefits at this stage is relatively limited, it is clear that some have emerged, including two relating directly to relevant policy objectives: improved communication, service user and carer involvement; improved partnership and joined up working. As approaches to shared assessment are currently under review in Scotland, England and Wales, and implementation underway in Northern Ireland, and in light of the economic recession and demographic challenges, consideration of key aspects of the evidence may be timely.
AB - Over the past 10 years, each of the four countries in the UK has attempted to resolve continuing difficulties with duplication of assessment and lack of shared information in community care, by developing approaches to shared assessment. Relevant literature reviews have previously focused on challenges to partnership working between health and social care, and on different approaches to assessment. The literature review described here differs in three key respects. Firstly, the literature was selected on the basis that it addressed shared assessment specifically. Secondly, it included evidence from the four countries within the UK, providing a cross-national basis to the evidence. Thirdly, this study was undertaken to identify whether benefits from shared assessment were evident, in addition to the challenges. While the evidence of benefits at this stage is relatively limited, it is clear that some have emerged, including two relating directly to relevant policy objectives: improved communication, service user and carer involvement; improved partnership and joined up working. As approaches to shared assessment are currently under review in Scotland, England and Wales, and implementation underway in Northern Ireland, and in light of the economic recession and demographic challenges, consideration of key aspects of the evidence may be timely.
KW - inter-professional
KW - inter-agency assessment
KW - health and social care
KW - shared assessment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650024925&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20795832
U2 - 10.3109/13561820.2010.497749
DO - 10.3109/13561820.2010.497749
M3 - Article
VL - 25
SP - 39
EP - 45
JO - Journal of Interprofessional Care
JF - Journal of Interprofessional Care
SN - 1356-1820
IS - 1
ER -