Case Study - 'The service with an inferiority complex'
'The service with an inferiority complex': older people with mental health problems
This story is about a team with very low morale, working with older people with mental health problems.
It concerns the strategies the locality manager used to revive people's energy and sense of purpose, working across professions, especially with social services and the voluntary sector.
There is only one viewpoint represented here as the other actors were under too much pressure to be interviewed.
Ben, locality manager’s viewpoint
Read or download a PDF of all the stories in this case study.
researchers' Commentary
What is striking here is the way Ben saw the service as having an inferiority complex. This reflected his view of the low priority given to older people, particularly those with mental health problems. Because of this, staff in the service appeared to be unable to hear any good news.
The expansion being developed was resource-led and was measured in terms of consultant capacity and the staff required to work with an extra consultant, rather than according actual user needs and how different staff could meet these needs.
Ben turned around the morale of this unit by setting a clear direction as leader and by engaging with key people such as the consultant, despite the difficulties of this, and an influential user group.
In common with people in other stories ['Settling for the best you can get'] Ben already knew a key player and used this positively.
High emotion is evident in this situation in common with other stories – see 'We won’t ever backbite' – and here it appeared to be helpful to allow the emotions to be expressed.
Read or download a PDF of all the stories in this case study.
