A systematic review of collaborative models for health and education professionals working in school settings and implications for training.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT Collaborative engagement between education and health agencies has become requisite since the establishment of school inclusion policies in many developed countries. For the child with healthcare needs in an educational setting, such collaboration is assumed to be necessary to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach. However, it is less clear how this is best achieved. OBJECTIVES: This secondary research aimed to answer the questions what are the reported models of best practice to support the collaboration between education and health staff and what are the implications for training strategies at an undergraduate and postgraduate level to affect these models? METHODS: Systematic review of current literature, with narrative summary. FINDINGS: Models of interaction and teamwork are well-described, but not necessarily well-evaluated, in the intersection between schools and health agencies. They include a spectrum from consultative to collaborative and interactive teaming. It is suggested that professionals may not be adequately skilled in, or knowledgeable about, teamwork processes or the unique roles each group can play in collaborations around the health needs of school children. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: There is a need for robust primary research into the questions identified in this paper, as well as a need for educators and health professionals to receive training in interprofessional teamwork and collaboration beyond their traditional domains. It is suggested such training needs to occur at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.