The Department of Health (DH) commissioned the UK Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE) in July 2005 to ascertain how higher education institutions (HEIs) in England delivering programmes leading to the Social Work Degree were providing interprofessional practice learning. Field work was conducted between February 2006 and October 2006. A Symposium to present preliminary findings was held in December 2006 and an Interim Report presented to the Department of Health in February 2007. An internal financial review by CAIPE resulted in a reorganisation and a decision to discontinue the employment of permanent salaried staff from the end of March 2007. The Final Report was prepared by the authors in a voluntary capacity, submitted to the DH in January 2008 and revised in April 2008.
The project focused on learning in practice settings intended to enable students to become competent to collaborate with others; how such learning was facilitated; whether facilitators had been prepared and supported for that role; the underpinning theories and values; and whether interprofessional practice learning was assessed..
Findings demonstrated respondents’ commitment to realise to the full the potential of the social work degree programmes, including preparation for interprofessional collaborative practice, although logistics were challenging. The relationship between service user and social worker emerged as the central axis around which other collaborative relationships revolved. Laudable though this was, it detracted from the need to approach interprofessional learning and practice as a multifaceted phenomenon from various perspectives. Learning for interprofessional working permeated programmes throughout, not confined to practice placements. The role of the practice teacher emerged as pivotal in facilitating interprofessional practice learning, a role for which they had seemingly not been prepared. Recommendations are within the art of the possible, highlighting practicable steps that can be taken promptly without additional resources.