3.4 Interdisciplinary and multi-agency working: ingredients for success
Different professionals, or disciplines, working together is an effective way of ensuring that children with mental health problems and their families get the best support possible. However, there are some ingredients that can make working together very successful.
Activity 3 The ingredients that make up successful interdisciplinary approaches
Timing: Allow about 10 minutes
In the previous sections, you have explored the barriers to and challenges of interdisciplinary working. Now make a list of what you think are the ingredients for success when several professionals from different disciplines in different locations are working with a child and the family to support the child’s mental health.
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Discussion
You may have included some of the following on your list:
- Good communication: for example, by attending meetings and being prepared to be able to make a ‘positive contribution’, responding to requests for information.
- Knowledge and understanding of others’ roles, being aware that different professionals may have different priorities and constraints.
- Commitment from all to be united in achieving the best outcomes for the child and the treatment and management of their mental health.
- Proactive approach with a focus on identifying solutions, some of which may require some creative thinking, that will help to remove or reduce barriers.