Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) can be an effective tool to facilitate collaboration between professionals and hence improve outcomes for people and communities. MDTs should proactively consider how to involve individuals and families to ensure that their views and interests are kept at the centre of decision making. Successful MDT working requires facilitative leadership, equality between members, encouragement of constructive challenge, and common access to information.
Teams do not have to be co-located in the same premises to work successfully but opportunities to engage in person, alongside virtual meetings, help to build relationships between members.
A structured approach to gathering insights on the working and impact of the teams will support regular reviews and collective reflection on opportunities to improve team practice.
MDTs should also consider how they can engage with other teams in their locality to support individuals with multiple health and social needs.
Multi-agency working: Multi-agency working is where professionals from different agencies collaborate to achieve a joint mission. Multi-agency working allows practitioners to evaluate an individual’s issues from multiple perspectives rather than focusing on a specific area
Resources
Multidisciplinary teams: Integrating care in places and neighbourhoods – SCIE
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Toolkit | NHS England | Workforce, training and education
What are Multi Agency Meetings in Health and Social Care? – Care Learning