The legal framework for multi-professional working

Learning Objectives

After considering this resource, you should be more aware of what effective collaborations with other professions entail and the challenges it presents.

People sitting at a table

Joint working and close coordination of services are highly desirable social work goals, which are also supported by the law and by practice guidance. However, there are of course many practical challenges at both an individual and organisational-level to make multi-professional working effective. Written by Michael Preston-Shoot and Suzy Braye and based on material from their chapter 'Frameworks for partnership working' in Practising Social Work Law, 4th edition (Red Globe Press, 2016), the following article explores this area of practice further

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Reflective Questions

  1. Have you worked multi-professionally on your placement yet? What did you enjoy about it? What did you find difficult about it?
  2. In what ways can multi-professional working create boundaries as well as breaking them down? How can you manage this?
  3. How can assumptions and misunderstandings about the role of other professionals impact on effective multi-professional working? What can you do to minimise any conflict?
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