Collaboration between community social services and healthcare institutions

Background: Well-functioning care of people with substance use and psychiatric disorders presumes collaboration between different parties such as psychiatric care and substance use treatment centres, as well as social services. According to Swedish law, a collaborative individual plan, i.e., a written action plan to support structured inter-organisational collaboration, should be established. However, there are indications that such action plans are not used to a satisfactory extent. Aim: To explore current inter-organisational collaboration and use of collaborative individual plans among healthcare units and social services in Stockholm County. Design: The study uses a cross-sectional design. Participants (N = 797) in a course specifically aimed at improving the knowledge and use of collaborative individual plans were invited to take part in the study prior to attending the course. A total of 705 participants accepted. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire sent to each participant’s workplace. Non-respondents were offered a paper version to fill out. Results: Respondents reported participating in one to two collaborative individual plans per month and about 70% reported using a particular template. Respondents perceived mainly positive consequences of establishing a collaborative individual plan, for instance that it clarifies what measures are to be performed and who is responsible. Conclusions: Although respondents were generally positive about establishing a collaborative individual plan and the consequences thereof, they reported low use of such action plans.