Collaborative working: benefits and barriers

This chapter examines the relevance of collaborative working from the nursing perspective. A leading aim of 'A Vision for the Future' was targeted towards health professionals and the need to work collaboratively in achieving common goals. Collaborative working is often considered synonymous with other modes of interaction such as co-operation, compromise, teamwork, alliancing, and joint planning, inter-multidisciplinary, interprofessional, multi-agency and intersectoral. Successful collaboration depends on participants sharing power with values placed on knowledge and expertise rather than on status in a role within the organisation or hierarchy. The value of working in a trusting and honest environment is recognised as facilitating good collaborative working relationships. Relational skills include readiness, willingness and trust, and these are thought to be the basic skills required for collaborative work. Communication is an essential component of collaboration. Poor communication between services and personnel was cited as a fundamental flaw by Lord Laming, who reported on the Victoria Climbié inquiry.