11 Integrated Teams in Early Years Services Tracey Fay & Maureen Read ACWA Conference Sydney 2010

22 Outline of presentation 1.Literature review 2.Our program 3.The clients 4.Model of team work 5.Benefits of team work 6.Challenges & constraints 7.The future

3 Literature Review Need for collaborative teamwork in early intervention settings Few articles on guidelines for good practice, structure or measurement tools General trend since 1980’s: health professional model collaborative partnership between family and professionals

4 Literature Review Teamwork is not magic, and simply “getting along” or communicating information to one another does not constitute collaboration” Hinojosa et al, 2001 Features of team collaboration Communication, decision making, goal setting, leadership & organisation Nijhuis et al, 2007 “Collaborative culture” including trust, common beliefs, empowering team, effective team meetings, feedback about team function Dukewits & Gowan, 1996

55 The program Dalwood Spilstead Model Single governance Interdisciplinary team Multimodal, evidence-based services: early childhood education allied health services parent-child attachment parenting education family support Evaluation

66 The clients 900 km 2 in northern Sydney 60% referrals from Community Services 40% community referrals Low-mod child protection risk Voluntary engagement 43 families Program duration up to 2 years Dalwood Spilstead Benevolent Society

77 Multi-modal services Early Years Centre Child Development Family support Parent-Child R’ship Child behaviour therapy Speech Pathology Child family health Occupational Therapy Preschool Counselling Supported play group ATSI support Childcare Financial advice Housing Parenting education Parent-Child Attachment Father’s support Home visiting Volunteer home visiting

88 The clients PARENTCHILD + Lack of parenting skills Drug and Alcohol Difficult child behaviourLack of family/social supports Domestic violence Parental Mental health Parental learning disability

99 Model of team work Child Development Family support Parent-Child Relationship Teacher Volunteers Psychologist Play therapist Social worker Aboriginal worker Speech pathologist Occupational therapist Administrative assistant Child & family health nurse InterdisciplinaryTrans-disciplinary

10 Models of team work MultidisciplinaryInterdisciplinaryTransdisciplinary Nissani, 1995

11 Team work processes 1. Team meeting - intake 2. Initial Home Visit 3. Family Assessment Day 4. Multimodal program Family vulnerabilities matched to family worker (e.g. infant mental health, early education, allied health) Family worker and colleague engage and respond to family’s concerns/priorities. Appraisal of suitability. Family worker coordinates team assessments with family participation. Shared knowledge leads to collaborative goal plan. Child and parent services delivered from all disciplines. Roles shared and extended within team. Input from all disciplines enable on- going review and program modifications. 5. Team case review

12 Benefits to children and families More inclusive approach (participants not just observers) Team v individual support They have a powerful voice Tell “their story” once Less time consuming Child assessment is ecological Demonstrates a respectful model of interaction

13 Benefits to team Cohesive and supportive Collegiality Professionally rewarding Mutual respect Expansion of skills & knowledge Shared learning. Responsive to families Comprehensive case planning and review

14 From team members... “ I am an experienced professional but have never worked in a more exciting and fulfilling way with families. For my knowledge to be part of a comprehensive assessment and planning process to support families is very freeing. But equally exciting is that I am not constrained by my role” “There have been challenges to adopting this approach, and we have worked hard to get this far but it has been worth it from a professional and personal perspective”

15 Challenges of team work Communication Lack of time, conflicts in practice, role conflicts, part time staff Parent-professional partnership Changing dynamics in face of child protection risk

16 Constraints Workforce issues recruitment, gender mix, equitability in salaries Budgets funding constraints Space physical space

17 Future directions Transdisciplinary child play assessments Early educators commence home visiting Expand volunteer role Foster team culture: –dialogue encouraged –feedback re: team functioning –team building –caring strategies

18 Thank you to our team!

19 … and thank you to you! Contact details Tracey Fay Maureen Read