Conceptualising service integration for inclusive activation: Exploring transferal and translation of models from health care

Abstract

Conceptual frameworks are important for advancing systematic understanding in a field of research. Many conceptual models have been developed to study service integration, but few have addressed activation. Based on an outline of the literature on the integration of labour market services, we explored two complementary conceptual models from integrated care and assessed whether the models could be transferred to the context of inclusive activation. The transferral of conceptual models is contingent upon whether the significant features of inclusive activation are like those of health care, and whether barriers to integrated labour market services are considered. We argue that the models facilitate a more analytical focus on service integration. Nevertheless, the models must be adjusted to account for the significant position of workplaces and employers, the importance of frontline professionals' knowledge base, the co-production of service provision and the values characterising the service encounters.

Cross‐sectoral frontline delivery of welfare‐to‐work services for young adults with complex problems in Norway

“…The NAV frontline workers seem to postpone activation if they do not feel confident that they have medical support, while GPs write medical certificates and statements that may correctly reflect the young patient's wishes, but with limited value or even obstructive effects on the activation process (Krohne & Brage, 2008). Thus, our empirical material shows few signs of truly ‘intersectoral’ collaboration that could have sparked innovation and created added value for the users (i.e., co‐production and co‐creation) (Saltkjel et al, 2022). Rather, it seems, communication between the two frontline services more resembles a two‐way monologue.…”