'There's a lot of tasks that can be done by any': Findings from an ethnographic study into work and organisation in UK community crisis resolution and home treatment services

Impact Factor:1.137 | Ranking:21/36 in Social Sciences, Biomedical | 81/136 in Public, Environmental & Occupational Health | 5-Year Impact Factor:1.396Source:2012 Journal Citation Reports® (Thomson Reuters, 2013)
Ben Hannigan hanniganb{at}cardiff.ac.uk

Cardiff University, UKAcross the United Kingdom, large numbers of crisis resolution and home treatment services have been established with the aim of providing intensive, short-term care to people who would otherwise be admitted to mental health hospital. Despite their widespread appearance, little is known about how crisis resolution and home treatment services are organised or how crisis work is done. This article arises from a larger ethnographic study (in which 34 interviews were conducted with practitioners, managers and service users) designed to generate data in these and related areas. Underpinned by systems thinking and sociological theories of the division of labour, the article examines the workplace contributions of mental health professionals and support staff. In a fast-moving environment, the work which was done, how and by whom, reflected wider professional jurisdictions and a recognisable patterning by organisational forces. System characteristics including variable shift-by-shift team composition and requirements to undertake assessments of new referrals while simultaneously providing home treatment shaped the work of some, but not all, professionals. Implications of these findings for larger systems of work are considered.

© 2013 SAGE Publications. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC

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Mid-Term Review of Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) Programme

DFID, NERC and ESRC are seeking to commission an independent external Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) Programme. The Review is being managed by the ESRC on behalf of the funders.

ESPA is a seven-year £40.5 million investment. It aims to deliver high-quality, cutting-edge research that will improve understanding of the way ecosystems function, the services they provide and their relationship with the political economy and sustainable growth. ESPAs research will provide the evidence and tools to enable decision-makers to manage ecosystems sustainably and in a way that contributes to poverty alleviation.

The principal aims of the Review are as follows:

Assurance that aims and objectives to date are being realisedAssessment of scientific quality and impact to dateAssessment of value for money added by the ProgrammeIdentification of changes/improvements going forwardAssessment of whether/how the Programme is able to respond to new challenges and emerging risks in a changing context.

The review is taking place between July 2013 and February 2014 and will be undertaken by an independent consultant.

To find out more information about the review and to receive a copy of the Review Brief, please contact Alistair Staunton-Lambert at alistair.staunton-lambert@ssc.rcuk.ac.uk. The closing date for the submission of tenders is 12.00, 18 July 2013.

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Final stages of Research Services decentralisation

The final stages for the decentralisation of Cancer Research UK Research Services are now complete.

Effective from 1 April 2009, the Bioinfomatics and Biostatistics, Cell Services, Transgenics and the Peptide Synthesis services are under the management of the London Research Institute as part of its Technology Core Facilities. The Affymetrix Genechip Microarray Service is under the management of the Paterson Institute, while the remaining Research Services have been disbanded.

Any ongoing projects with these facilities will be completed. The services now within the LRI will no longer be available to grantees. Any further collaborative work with non-LRI users, may be considered on a case by case basis.

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