”The Individual's needs in focus" (IBIC)

Description

The overall aim of this study is to scrutinize if, and how, the working method/model/support IBIC contributes to facilitate social support, and to realize the intentions of the Swedish Social Act. IBIC (The Individual’s Needs in Focus) is utilized in the social service’s assessment process and implementation of interventions concerning adults. It is recommended by the National Board of Health and Welfare, and nine out of ten Swedish municipalities have implemented or are going to implement this method.

However, neither evaluations nor research exists concerning the premises of IBIC or the outcome. It is not even evident what IBIC actually is; it is described as a ‘support’, a ‘working method’, and a ‘model’ in the guidebook. IBIC stipulates that the social service’s interventions should be based on the individual’s needs rather than on the range of interventions usually offered by the municipalities. There should also be an increased focus on the individual and participation. Additionally, IBIC is supposed to assist individual and organizational follow-ups and facilitate evidence-based practice.

IBIC is based on WHO’s international classification of functional status, disabilities and health (ICF), primarily used by the health sector, and explicitly excludes socioeconomic factors. It is debatable whether or not a language aiming to describe ‘health’ is relevant for describing social problems. Likewise, it is important to ask if the tightly structured documentation systems of IBIC actually promote ‘clients’ voices and participation.

This study critically explores IBIC through community-based social support for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Thus, it is this type of social support that is the prism through which we study how IBIC is carried out by social workers. The study is qualitative based on analyses of social documentation and interviews with social workers from five municipalities.

A social perspective on psychiatric disabilities will guide the study.