A4: Multi-disciplinary Working in Health and Social Care

multi-disciplinary team

a team where health and social care workers from different professional backgrounds and with different work roles plan, implement, and monitor and individuals care

importance of multi-disciplinary working

• if a service user is supported by different professionals those carers must work as a team

• Victoria Climbie and Baby P’s reasons for deaths were identified as a lack of joined-up working

• professionals didn’t pass on crucial information

formal team meetings

• service user, advocate/translator, informal carers, and professionals who contribute to support

• service user or representatives presence ensures empowerment and allows their views and preferences to be shared

holistic approach

addresses the individuals physical, social, emotional, and spiritual health

Victoria Climbie

• tortured and murdered by her great-aunt and her great-aunts boyfriend

• her death led to a public enquiry and produced changes in child protection policies

• slept bound in a bin-liner, burned with cigarettes and hot water, starved, tied up, hit with objects, and forced to eat like a dog

• parties involved in her case were criticised

• multiple incidents where she could have been saved

Baby P

• killed from over 50 injuries over 8 months from his mother and her boyfriend

• child protection services and other agencies involved were criticised

• 3 enquires and a national review of social services were launches