Stimulating interdisciplinary collaboration among youth social workers: A scoping review

Abstract

In recent decades, a considerable amount of literature on interdisciplinary collaboration has been published. Interdisciplinary collaboration plays an important role in matching services to the individual needs of children and young people, but working interdisciplinary appears to be hard for youth social work professionals. The aim of this scoping review was to identify, analyse, and summarise literature on stimulating interdisciplinary collaboration among social work professionals working with youth. Seven databases were systematically searched (until March 2017), and grey literature was hand-searched for relevant publications. Included in this review were empirical studies on at least one (future) social work professional working with youth that (a) focused on interventions for or important elements in interdisciplinary collaboration, team development, or teambuilding/work, (b) were conducted in a Western country; (c) met a clearly written method, and (d) were published in English or Dutch. Eighteen publications met the criteria, in which two categories of studies could be identified: focusing on important elements in interdisciplinary collaboration (ten studies) and focusing on interventions (eight studies). From the ten studies on elements, six overarching elements were distinguished that appear to stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration. (a) Awareness and understanding of the other discipline; (b) communication and interaction: feedback, reflection, and evaluation; (c) team structure; (d) willingness to work together; (e) shared responsibility/norms, and (f) mutual trust. The interventions found in the eight other studies were divided into three forms: training, organisational interventions, and tools. More support for professionals in interventions is needed to stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration. The six overarching elements found in this review can be used in developing these interventions. Further research is needed to develop, test, and systemically measure interventions in order to help youth social work professionals collaborate successfully in an interdisciplinary manner.

Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Perception of Interprofessional Collaboration Model-Questionnaire (PINCOM-Q)

“…Our data suggests that professionals perceived the relational quality of IPC to be the central element of their collaborative practice. This finding is in line with recent international qualitative research showing that professionals working with children with complex needs across settings and disciplinary background emphasize the importance of mutual understanding, shared thinking, and familiarity with other professionals [ 2 10 43 ]. Further studies should therefore build on our results and use the scale to measure changes of perceptions of IPC over time that may indicate effects of longer-term practice-based IPC interventions, such as interprofessional education or joint care planning.…”

A Directed Content Analysis of Interagency Collaboration Literature Within the Framework of the Working Alliance

“…With regard to the “Tasks” category, previous studies on the working alliance supported the five themes as important tasks for successful collaboration: (a) identifying professionals’ roles and responsibilities, (b) ongoing communication and dissemination of information, (c) regular meetings, (d) staff training, and (e) implementing changes to systems and policies. Shared roles, responsibilities, and expertise, effective communications, structural team meetings, and interprofessional training were key factors to successful collaboration, which were also delineated in the themes of the “Tasks” category (Boland et al, 2016; D’Amour et al, 2005; Rumping et al, 2019). Transition service providers from the education system, the VR agency, and other adult service agencies might have different perspectives on effective transition service provisions due to different organizational cultures, expert knowledge, and the service delivery process.…”

Local drug prevention strategies through the eyes of policy makers and outreach social workers in Norway

“…Previous studies have researched factors that stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration among youth social workers (Buljac‐Samardzic, Van Wijngaarden, Van Wijk, & Van Exel, 2011; Rumping, Boendermaker, & De Ruyter, 2019). In the present study, we aim to contribute to this knowledge base with a focus on the unique role that outreach social workers have as policy implementers.…”