Consensus or contention: an exploration of multidisciplinary team functioning in an Irish mental health context

Abstract

Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are conventionally recommended in mental health care literature as an important way to offer holistic treatment provision to patients. This study aims to explore multidisciplinary teamwork in contemporary mental health settings, particularly what aids and hinders the process of multidisciplinary teamworking, and the social work contribution in such teams. In order to attain an in-depth exploration of these phenomena, a single case study design was employed. Within this design, data were generated through semi-structured interviews and structured observation of a mental health MDT in Ireland. These data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The research highlights how the concept of mental illness is contested within this MDT, with the medical model dominant within an environment of fluid working arrangements. Professional role blurring and stereotyping were found to impact the division of labour on this team, with role negotiation found to be an integral part of retaining a professional's practice identity. This research raises concerns for social work's capacity to function within mental health MDTs in Ireland, and highlights ways in which social work educators might respond in order to empower Irish social workers to meet the challenges of mental health multidisciplinary teamworking.

A multidisciplinary learning experience contributing to mental health rehabilitation

“…However, the preparation of students for interdisciplinary practice is rare. Maddock [13] Delivery of the Recovery Camp program is underpinned by the principles of therapeutic recreation -that is, using recreation activities as a therapeutic means to improve health and quality of life [15]. This is an approach widely used in North America, but is yet to be embraced in other parts of the world.…”

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“…The fragmentation of health care services constitutes a challenge to the collaboration process [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The decentralised and fragmented nature of health care systems brings about communication gaps and obstructs shared decision-making between health providers, affecting the continuity of care [21].…”

“…Understanding different discipline-specific roles and knowledge cultivates a culture of collaboration [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Members of different disciplines are equipped with specific knowledge and competencies within their own discipline [8].…”

“…Share decision making is an important attribute to achieve effective IDC [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Shared decision making is a collaborative process in which healthcare professionals make health related decisions together with the clients.…”

“…Improved quality of care and patient outcome IDC improves quality of patient care and patient outcomes [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. IDC exploits the full potientialof different disciplines, resulting in clinical improvement which better benefits the clients [32][33][34].…”