Barriers to collaboration between health care, social services and schools

Authors

  • Catharina Widmark Karolinska Institutet
  • Christer Sandahl Karolinska Institutet
  • Katarina Piuva Department of Social Work
  • David Bergman Karolinska Institutet

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.653

Keywords:

obstacles to collaboration, perceptions, management, holding environment

Abstract

Background: It is essential for professionals from different organizations to collaborate when handling matters concerning children, adolescents, and their families in order to enable society to provide holistic health care and social services.

 

Objective: This paper reports perceptions of obstacles to collaboration among professionals in health care (county council), social services (municipality), and schools in an administrative district of the city of Stockholm, Sweden.

 

Methods: Data were collected in focus group interviews with unit managers and employees.

 

Results and discussion: Our results show that the responsibility for collaboration fell largely on the professionals. Also, there was a lack of clarity regarding differences in mission and regulations, allocation of responsibilities, competence, explanatory models, and working approach. We conclude that a holding environment and a committed management would support these professionals in their efforts to collaborate.

Author Biographies

  • Catharina Widmark, Karolinska Institutet

    Karolinska Institutet, Medical Management Centre, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

  • Christer Sandahl, Karolinska Institutet

    PhD, Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Medical Management Centre, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

  • Katarina Piuva, Department of Social Work

    PhD, Department of Social Work, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

  • David Bergman, Karolinska Institutet

    MD, PhD, Karolinska Institutet, Medical Management Centre, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

Downloads

Published

2011-09-16

Issue

Section

Research & theory