Team collaboration in early childhood intervention services in South Africa : comparing professional and caregiver perspectives

Abstract

Collaboration is a sophisticated activity requiring knowledge, technical competencies, and interpersonal skills. Many professionals lack experience in collaboration and therefore face challenges in forming and sustaining early childhood intervention (ECI) teams. These challenges are further compounded when professionals lack skills in collaborating with caregivers who are integral members of the ECI team. There has been limited research on collaboration within ECI teams, particularly in healthcare settings in resource-limited countries with linguistic and cultural diversity and a historical legacy like South Africa. The purpose of this study was to compare professional and caregiver perspectives on collaboration in ECI teams in South Africa, using a descriptive comparative design. Participants included 34 professionals and 64 caregivers who completed professional or caregiver measures respectively. The results showed that a) there are differences in professional and caregiver perceptions about collaboration in services for young children, b) compared to caregivers, professionals have an enhanced understanding of collaboration in ECI teams, c) collaboration in relation to family- centered practices appear to be undervalued by caregivers in comparison to professionals, and d) mutual respect, communication, commitment, resources, linguistic, cultural, and historical considerations are essential for collaboration in ECI teams. These results highlight the importance of context and gaining professional as well as caregiver perspectives on collaboration in ECI teams.

Samewerking is ? gesofistikeerde aktiwiteit wat kennis, tegniese vaardighede en interpersoonlike vaardighede vereis. Baie professionele persone het nie voldoende ervaring in samewerking nie en staar daarom uitdagings in die gesig soos om vroeë kinder intervensie (VKI) spanne te vorm en in stand te hou. Hierdie uitdagings word verder vererger wanneer professionele persone nie die nodige vaardighede het om met versorgers, wat integrale lede van die VKI span is, saam te werk nie. Beperkte navorsing is gedoen rondom die samewerking binne-in VKI spanne, spesifiek rondom gesondheidsorg-instellings in beperkte hulpbron lande soos Suid-Afrika met taalkundige en kulturele diversiteit asook n historiese erfenis. Die doel van hierdie studie was om professionele persone en versorgers se perspektiewe rondom die samewerking in VKI spanne in Suid-Afrika te vergelyk deur die gebruik van ? beskrywende, vergelykende ontwerp. Deelnemers het 34 professionele persone en 64 versorgers ingesluit, wat onderskeidelik die professionele persone of versorgers metingsinstrument voltooi het. Die resultate het getoon dat a) daar verskille tussen die perspektiewe van professionele persone en versorgers was rondom die samewerking in dienste vir jong kinders, b) in vergelyking met versorgers, het professionele persone ? beter begrip rondom die samewerking in VKI spanne gehad, c) samewerking in verband met gesinsgesentreerde praktyke blyk onderwaardeer te word deur versorgers in vergelyking met professionele persone, en d) wedersydse respek, kommunikasie, toewyding, hulpbronne, taalkundige, kulturele en historiese oorwegings is noodsaaklik vir samewerking in VKI spanne. Hierdie resultate beklemtoon die belangrikheid van konteks asook die verkryging van professionele persone sowel as versorgers se perspektiewe oor die samewerking binne VKI spanne.