Development of a Model Within a Hospital System

A pilot project in the reorganisation of social work services for specific areas within a major teaching hospital is described. The system, referred to as Intake, involved social workers combining specific medical work areas within the hospital for centralised discussion and allocation of referrals on a daily basis. This article outlines the development of the system and describes an evaluation aimed at monitoring the Intake team's process, and assessing the impact of the Intake system at the ward level. The outcome of the evaluation of the team's process and recommendations regarding the future of the system are also discussed.