“Describe the Roles and Responsibilities of Four Members of the Multidisciplinary Team Who You Have Observed Planning and Implementing Care for One Child and Family
“Describe the roles and responsibilities of four members of the Multidisciplinary Team who you have observed planning and implementing care for one child and family.”
The majority of practitioners who work in healthcare are trained to function both independently and autonomously (Soothill et al 1995). There can be many challenges when working as part of a team, Soothill et al (1995) acknowledges this by stating, “learning to work with many different types of professionals in a multidisciplinary team can be extremely difficult” (pg 5). However, before going further, it is first of all important to define, what is meant by inter-professional working (or multidisciplinary teams)? Barrett et al (2005) states that inter-professional working requires that individuals from different professions and agencies to work together. However within the context of health care, the service user is the patient. Hoffman et al (2007) describes inter-professional care as being “a patient-centred, team-based approach to health and social care and it is through this synergy that the strength and skills of each contributing health and social worker is maximised, thus increasing the quality of patient/service user care” (pg 2). Research, as identified by Hoffman et al (2007) supports the idea of inter-professional collaboration by stating that “it lowers patient mortality, improves patient safety, improves health services, reduces hospitalisation and associated costs, enhances patient satisfaction, improves levels of innovation in patient care, increases staff motivation, well-being and retention” (pg2).
However, as highlighted before, effective inter-professional working can be difficult to achieve. Barriers such as lack of recognition or respect for another professionals’ occupation, poor knowledge within own occupation, fear and even lack of trust of the perspectives of other occupational groups can hinder inter-professional working (Soothill et al 1995). In the Working Together:
The majority of practitioners who work in healthcare are trained to function both independently and autonomously (Soothill et al 1995). There can be many challenges when working as part of a team, Soothill et al (1995) acknowledges this by stating, “learning to work with many different types of professionals in a multidisciplinary team can be extremely difficult” (pg 5). However, before going further, it is first of all important to define, what is meant by inter-professional working (or multidisciplinary teams)? Barrett et al (2005) states that inter-professional working requires that individuals from different professions and agencies to work together. However within the context of health care, the service user is the patient. Hoffman et al (2007) describes inter-professional care as being “a patient-centred, team-based approach to health and social care and it is through this synergy that the strength and skills of each contributing health and social worker is maximised, thus increasing the quality of patient/service user care” (pg 2). Research, as identified by Hoffman et al (2007) supports the idea of inter-professional collaboration by stating that “it lowers patient mortality, improves patient safety, improves health services, reduces hospitalisation and associated costs, enhances patient satisfaction, improves levels of innovation in patient care, increases staff motivation, well-being and retention” (pg2).
However, as highlighted before, effective inter-professional working can be difficult to achieve. Barriers such as lack of recognition or respect for another professionals’ occupation, poor knowledge within own occupation, fear and even lack of trust of the perspectives of other occupational groups can hinder inter-professional working (Soothill et al 1995). In the Working Together:
References: Barrett G., Sellman D., Thomas J (2005) Interprofessional Working in Health and Social Care: Professional Perspectives. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan press Hockenberry M.J., Wilson J., Jackson C (Ed) (2007) Wong’s: Nursing Care of Infants and Children Morton N. S (1998) Acute Paediatric Pain Management: A Practical Guide. London W.B.Saunders Nettina S Soothill K., Mackay L., Webb C (1995) Interprofessional Relations in Health Care. London, Edward Arnold press Journal Articles Baldwin J., DeWitt C., Royer, J. A., Edinberg M. A (2007) “Maintenance of Health Care Teams: Internal and External Dimensions.” Journal of Interprofessional Care. Vol 21:1:38-51 Hoffman S.J., Rosenfield D, Gilbert J Publications Department of Health (1998) Working Together: Securing a Quality Workforce for the NHS Towner E (2002) Prevention of Childhood Injury. Newcastle, Department of Health NHS Department of Health (2004) Socio-economic Circumstances, Lone Parenthood and Children 's Utilisation of Health Services General Medical Council (2001) Good Medical Practice. GMC Publications Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) The Code: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives Royal College of Nursing (2003) Defining Nursing. London, RCN Publishing Towner E (2002) Prevention of Childhood Injury Website Resources Speech by Lord Laming (2003) Victoria Climbie Inquiry Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2008) Physiotherapy Explained. Available at http://www.csp.org.uk Accessed on 5th August 2008-10-20