Tara Fenwick, Professor of Professional EducationDirector, ProPEL Research Network

Issues in Interprofessional Practice

Different logics of practiceDifferent frames of the problem

Appreciating differenceAppreciating difference

Conflict over what is the priority, and what is the right thing to do

Dismissal or lack of full usage of one another’s potential contributions

Overlapping services, but not joined up

Practitioners governed by different larger structures, rules, routines and schedules

Mutual trust issues

•Different contributions – recognise what unique perspective, resources and competency strengths each partner brings•Different boundaries – of standards of practice, of professional responsibility, of knowledge•Different key objectives•Specific professional language

Clarify the shared issue/problem space, and different strengths

find bridging devices

brokers, boundary crossers

create new practice spaces

boundary objects

Learn from existing practices

• lessons from rural police• taking time to build

relationships• strategic rule bending• calculated risk taking• invite yourself to their

meetings

Attend to hierarchies

conflicts played out among directors/heads of different services – e.g. protecting boundaries, decision-making authority, budgets

attend to histories – e.g. command and control ideals, conventional practice spheres

Work through issues of interprofessional practice

•Appreciate difference – in priority, practices, structures•Anticipate communication difficulties•Recognise influence of history•Clarify the shared issue•Make different meanings & priorities explicit •Make explicit each group’s unique skills, knowledge, powers•Initiate contact and educate – e.g. explain what police can contribute to a particular issue•Leadership is critical•Inter-professional training