A critical realist model of complexity for interprofessional working

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical model of complexity for considering issues relevant to interprofessional working. The need for such a model is introduced with reference to the literature on collaboration and integration in health and social care, particularly in children's services. It is argued that interprofessional working is often seen as a response to complexity, but that current models fail to build an appreciation of complex causality into their approach to addressing needs through targeted interventions. The alternative offered here is a critical realist model based on Bhaskar's domains of reality, focusing on the implications of open systems, complex causality and contingency. These ideas are used to examine some of the issues and dilemmas typically encountered by interprofessional networks in coming together to work on complex cases.

Keywords::

• Complexity
• concept analysis
• interprofessional collaboration
• interprofessional practice
• protection

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Professor Jan Fook, Professor Ravinder Barn and Professor Ray Jones for their support and comments on an earlier version of this paper.

Declaration of interest The author reports no conflict of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.