Experience of collaboration at a family centre for preschool children in Sweden.

Abstract

To describe the personnel's experience of collaboration. Qualitative interviews with transcripts analysed using the phenomenographic approach. Seven staff with experience of collaboration. All were female, aged 34-62 and were dental nurses, child health-care nurses, preschool teacher or family centre co-ordinators. Three themes describing personnel's experience of collaboration at the family centre emerged: Collaboration produces an holistic approach, Co-location creates added value and Working methods result in development. Each theme was represented by three to four categories that represent different conceptions of collaboration at a family centre. The staff had found that the way of working was positive, mainly because it gave an increased overall view and that the co-location created added value. It also created development through mutual learning and new methods. However, it took time to establish collaboration and required permissive leadership.