A case study of co-located service providers within community children's centres, and the influence on collaborative working
A case study of co-located service providers within community children's centres, and the influence on collaborative working
Background: Collaborative working has long been identified in UK national policy and research literature as a critical consideration in addressing the needs of women and families accessing maternity and early years care; however, it is particularly complex. The research literature often cites that co-location or placing different service providers within the same physical space, can
foster collaborative working. In one south of England city, referred to as Partridge City, the colocation of maternity and early years agencies and service providers, occurs within a community based children's centre setting; however, the complexities around co-location and the impact on collaboration, specifically within these children's centres, have not been readily explored.
Aims: The research aims to explore collaboration among co-located service providers working in maternity and early years services in a community children's centre setting in Partridge City.
Methods: The investigation utilised a qualitative case study methodology to explore the phenomenon of collaborative experiences among service providers at community-based children's centres in this location. The research brought together the insights of a total of 19 participants representing a diverse group of professionals, including midwives, health visitors, staff from the children’s centres, and a Family Nurse Partnership nurse. These participants
represented those co-located within four city children’s centres and data were gathered through observational sessions and semi-structured interviews. Supplementary documentary evidence was also reviewed. The data underwent a thorough thematic analysis, providing a detailed exploration of the collaborative landscape within the children’s centres.
Findings and conclusions: The research findings identified that different service providers experienced co-location differently, influenced by factors such as working roles, the frequency of working within the children's centres, and how they used the centres within their work with women and families. Co-location in the children’s centres also impacted working relationships and the configuration of the collaborative team. Hierarchies developed, impacting how individuals felt
respected and how others identified their service provider roles and responsibilities. Behaviour and attitudes were also seen to influence commitment and accountability to collaborative working. Whilst this research is not the first to investigate the complexities of collaborative working, it does provide a unique exploration into collaboration and co-location within a children's centre setting and challenges some of the existing rhetoric. It, therefore, contributes
new insights regarding the broader evidence base of research in this topic area.
University of Southampton
Denton, Naomi Jane
7a9e0036-091e-42a6-9770-7fa84085d8b2
November 2023
Denton, Naomi Jane
7a9e0036-091e-42a6-9770-7fa84085d8b2
Kitson-Reyolds, Ellen
84815845-984c-40cb-95b0-90a695c650f2
Denton, Naomi Jane
(2023)
A case study of co-located service providers within community children's centres, and the influence on collaborative working.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis, 275pp.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Background: Collaborative working has long been identified in UK national policy and research literature as a critical consideration in addressing the needs of women and families accessing maternity and early years care; however, it is particularly complex. The research literature often cites that co-location or placing different service providers within the same physical space, can
foster collaborative working. In one south of England city, referred to as Partridge City, the colocation of maternity and early years agencies and service providers, occurs within a community based children's centre setting; however, the complexities around co-location and the impact on collaboration, specifically within these children's centres, have not been readily explored.
Aims: The research aims to explore collaboration among co-located service providers working in maternity and early years services in a community children's centre setting in Partridge City.
Methods: The investigation utilised a qualitative case study methodology to explore the phenomenon of collaborative experiences among service providers at community-based children's centres in this location. The research brought together the insights of a total of 19 participants representing a diverse group of professionals, including midwives, health visitors, staff from the children’s centres, and a Family Nurse Partnership nurse. These participants
represented those co-located within four city children’s centres and data were gathered through observational sessions and semi-structured interviews. Supplementary documentary evidence was also reviewed. The data underwent a thorough thematic analysis, providing a detailed exploration of the collaborative landscape within the children’s centres.
Findings and conclusions: The research findings identified that different service providers experienced co-location differently, influenced by factors such as working roles, the frequency of working within the children's centres, and how they used the centres within their work with women and families. Co-location in the children’s centres also impacted working relationships and the configuration of the collaborative team. Hierarchies developed, impacting how individuals felt
respected and how others identified their service provider roles and responsibilities. Behaviour and attitudes were also seen to influence commitment and accountability to collaborative working. Whilst this research is not the first to investigate the complexities of collaborative working, it does provide a unique exploration into collaboration and co-location within a children's centre setting and challenges some of the existing rhetoric. It, therefore, contributes
new insights regarding the broader evidence base of research in this topic area.
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Published date: November 2023
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 498974
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498974
PURE UUID: 3ecd8ad7-468f-466f-b177-a585a3d3e6ee
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Date deposited: 05 Mar 2025 18:07
Last modified: 05 Mar 2025 18:09
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Contributors
Author:
Naomi Jane Denton
Thesis advisor:
Ellen Kitson-Reyolds
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