MPs are due to hear about Oxford Health’s approach to social work in mental health today as associate director of social care Mary Buckman gives evidence at an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Social Work.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group is looking into the integration of health and social care and Mary will be appearing in her role as co-chair of the mental health group for the British Association of Social Work.

Mary will share learning about the vital role of social work and social care in mental health care in the last 20 years, what works well, and highlighting the benefits of individualised care focused on the needs of people, their family and friends alongside the benefits different professionals can bring to their work.

Professionals in our services  come from a range of backgrounds including nursing, occupational therapy, and social work which means they bring valuable additional skills, knowledge and experience to the interventions they deliver to people with mental health needs in addition to the functions of assessment and care planning

Mary Buckman

Mary said: “This is a really important opportunity to talk about the role of social work and social care in health, and more specifically mental health. It is an opportunity to highlight the vital contribution social work makes and bring greater understanding about the role and the benefits and challenges of integrated health and social care.”

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Social Work is co-chaired by Barbara Keeley MP and David Simmonds MP and is looking in detail at government proposals to integrate social care with the NHS through the proposed Health and Care Bill. Its findings will be shared in a report to the Department for Health and Social Care.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Social Work seeks to understand the impact of these proposals on social work and will specifically consider the impact of the proposals on social work service-users, the impact of the proposals on social work, examples of best practice of integration, the role of Care Quality Commission inspections and challenges and obstacles.

The Government’s Health and Care Bill was introduced to parliament on Tuesday, July 6.