Objective: The contributions of social work to the interdisciplinary team are described, along with opportunities for, and barriers to, effective teamwork. Conclusions: Social work is concerned with the social context and consequences of mental illness on the individual, family and community. Social work serves to connect the treatment team to the broader issues of family welfare, housing, income security, and community and sense of belonging. This broader focus and the social justice framework for social work can create tension between social work and other disciplines. Both undergraduate and postgraduate education for social workers remain a challenge, given the complexity and demands of the mental health workplace.

Item Type:	Professional, Non Refereed Article
Research Division:	Studies in Human Society
Research Group:	Social Work
Research Field:	Social Work not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Law, Politics and Community Services
Objective Group:	Work and Institutional Development
Objective Field:	Professions and Professionalisation
Author:	Bland, R (Professor Robert Bland)
ID Code:	21277
Year Published:	2001
Deposited By:	Sociology and Social Work
Deposited On:	2001-08-01
Last Modified:	2001-10-03
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