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Problem solving in small multidisciplinary teams: a means of improving the quality of the communication environment for people with profound learning disability
Author(s) -
Dobson Susan,
Dodsworth Susan,
Miller Maureen
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-3156.2000.00002.x
Subject(s) - multidisciplinary approach , multidisciplinary team , psychology , unit (ring theory) , quality (philosophy) , teamwork , work (physics) , medical education , nursing , knowledge management , medicine , computer science , engineering , mathematics education , mechanical engineering , social science , philosophy , epistemology , sociology , political science , law
Nurses and speech and language therapists who work with adults with profound learning disabilities frequently experience difficulties with mutual interprofessional role expectations. These stresses arise because of the unique fluid and temporal nature of the multidisciplinary teams in day care settings. The unit in which the present project occurred was very successful in attracting community visitors. A previously identified problem was the effect that these visitors had on the continuity of the communication environment. The pilot project had shown that the staff team needed to identify a method of effectively sharing information about communication. The nurses, and the speech and language therapist used this problem as a team development exercise. It defined the roles of the team members, explored their knowledge and skills, and developed mutual respect between the different professions. The present study describes both how the solution to the problem was identified, and how it developed the team and the individual's knowledge and respect for their different roles.