Introduction

Mental health social work began in the 1920s and, traditionally, social workers have followed a psychosocial model of mental health which, whilst valuing the medical model, would argue for a more holistic approach (Ramon 2001). This approach concurs with the principle of multidisciplinary team working to provide comprehensive care within Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) and Low Secure Units (LSUs). Many patients find themselves in a cycle of social exclusion which often leads to loss of social networks, debt, poor housing, rejection by society, unemployment and worsening mental health (Social Exclusion Unit 2004). A major policy direction to address this inequality is social inclusion which, undoubtedly, increases the importance of social care within mental health services. Consequently, it is argued that each multidisciplinary team should have a dedicated social worker, especially for long-stay low secure environments, to promote the social care agenda and bring about positive social change in what is, traditionally, a health care setting (Department of Health 2002a).

This chapter briefly defines social work, considers the social policy focus on social inclusion and identifies the need for social work within the multidisciplinary team in order to provide a holistic package of care. It then proceeds to propose a model of social work that focuses on the social causes of illness and the need for a social response to the problems people often experience.