The mother's voice in inter-professional collaboration in a client support group

Abstract

By analyzing videotaped scenes from a meeting in a client support group, this qualitative study investigates the communication between the mother and the professionals. The conversation taking place is not in a spirit of shared ownership and responsibility; the mother's voice is not heard. The study demonstrates that the professionals act from different perspectives to the parents as a matter of routine, and they call for standard solutions. The findings also demonstrate that it is not enough for the professionals to act in an empathic manner towards the mother, if they cannot bring forward expectations of changes that make real differences in daily life in a more material way. The paradigm of empowerment and partnership demands strong consciousness about professional role and practice.

Keywords:

• inter-professional collaboration
• parent's voices
• disabled children
• professional attitude
• professional communication skills
• partnership