The structure and flow of the health care network as an instrument of change in psychosocial assistance services

Abstract

Changes in mental health care demand changes in the structure and function of health care networks. The aim of the present study was to understand how workers assess the structure of their network and how they use it as a tool for psychosocial rehabilitation. The present qualitative study is part of a larger research project, Rehabilitating networks - assessing experiences of innovation in network development for psychosocial care. Interviews were conducted with six workers at the Therapeutic Home Service (THS) of Alegrete, and four field observation notebooks were analyzed. The results revealed the transversal nature of the investigated network, the relationships between its various components, the strategies used to make non-institutionalized care effective, the responsibilities of the network users, and the relationships between the residents and the workers in the service and at home. In conclusion, the Alegrete network facilitates exchanges between the participants, which indicates that future work should focus on the subjects of reflection and transformation.