Working with Young People with Complex Needs: Practitioners’ Views

Abstract

Background: We report the findings of a descriptive study exploring the views of practitioners working with young people with especially challenging and complex problems, currently cared for by children's services across Yorkshire. We present data on a sample of 79 young people with complex needs, aged 7 to 16 years, in contact with one or more of the children's services. Method: We identified the practitioner working most closely with each of these young people. The practitioners were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule designed to encourage professionals to reflect on working practices. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and themes categorized using a coding framework. Results and conclusions: We describe and discuss the key themes in the context of current strategic developments of children's services.

Interagency collaboration in children and young people's mental health: a systematic review of outcomes, facilitating factors and inhibiting factors

“…data; Rethink 2011; Rothi & Leavey ; Spong et al II; Worrall‐Davies et al . ). Closely linked to this, in five of the studies, positive individual relationships across professionals – with a friendly and approachable interpersonal style – were cited as facilitative of interagency collaboration (O'Herlihy et al Unpub.…”

“…Closely related to that, professionals and parents/carers in four studies said that no‐one taking responsibility impeded interagency collaboration (Burkey et al ; O'Herlihy et al , Unpub. data; Ødegård ; Worrall‐Davies et al ), with referral difficulties identified in three studies (Rothi & Leavey ; Spong et al II, III). This, latter factor, included not being able to refer in to other services due to long waiting lists or because direct referrals were not allowed.…”

Strategy for Working With Adolescents in Difficulty: Motivation Through a Humanitarian Work Project

“…In many regards, the data collected here show how important it is to be creative and innovative when working with adolescents in difficulty and to adopt an overall view of their situation (educational, psychosocial, family) by developing partnerships between the different institutions and social actors (Schmied & Walsh, 2010;Worrall-Davies, Kiernan, Anderton, & Cottrell, 2004). In the present case, collaboration between the different groups (rehabilitation, education, community) shows that it is possible to work together for the adolescents' well-being.…”

Nurses’, midwives’ and health visitors’ involvement in cross‐boundary working within child health services

“…Nurses working within CAMHS frequently work across all agencies in the context of their practice (Baldwin 2002) and the conference delegates identified the wide range of cross‐boundary working in this field of practice echoing that reported in the literature which includes: shared workshops to establish behaviour modification programmes particularly regarding children with learning disabilities displaying challenging behaviour (Gates et al . 2001); inter‐professional working between CAMHS staff and primary care health workers (Lacey 1999; Worrall‐Davies et al . 2004a,b) with some evidence for increasing the skills and confidence of primary care staff through educational interventions (Bower et al .…”

“…Worrall‐Davies and colleagues (2004b) have described how good inter‐agency relationships built on respect and joint training can result in joined‐up working practices, however, they noted that there were also barriers which include the strict adherence to procedures which can yield unintended consequences and individuals who do not take responsibility for working together properly. Indeed, policy enactment may be slowed by local procedural developments which become an extended exercise with different stakeholders insisting upon inclusion of various processes.…”