The use of multidisciplinary teams to support child welfare clients |
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Authors: | Elisabeth Hesjedal Anette Christine Iversen Hege H Bye Hilde Hetland |
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Institution: | 1. NLA University College, Bergen 5812, Norway;2. Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway;3. Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway |
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Abstract: | Meeting the educational needs of young people in the child welfare system (CWS) requires effective collaboration between the CWS and the education system. In Norway and in other countries, there is an increased focus on interprofessional collaboration to support child welfare clients in and around schools. Multidisciplinary teams are employed to facilitate collaboration and coordinate supportive measures. The purpose of this article is to describe how teachers and social workers use such teams as part of a collaborative effort to support children living in difficult conditions. In an inductive thematic analysis of 13 interviews with 7 social workers and 6 teachers, the following five key themes were revealed: (i) solution-focused work; (ii) listening to the child; (iii) parental support; (iv) social/environmental opportunities for successful interactions and (v) ensuring school attendance through adapted education and support. In conclusion, we discuss the ways in which these themes reflect how teams support child welfare clients. |
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Keywords: | multidisciplinary teams in Norway interprofessional collaboration child welfare services education child welfare clients |
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