Social work and the multidisciplinary mental health team

Abstract

This practicum report is a combination of my practice experience gained while completing a practicum at Prince Albert Parkland Health Region (PAPHR) Mental Health Services from May 2009 to July 2009 and the literature reviewed on the topic of multidisciplinary mental health teams. This report explores the strengths and challenges experienced by multidisciplinary mental health teams, including those that I observed while completing my practicum. Issues explored in the report include differences and similarities of ideologies amongst the different professionals that belong to the multidisciplinary mental health team, social work values and ethics and how they are similar and different to those practiced by other professions, strategies and skills that are utilized by the members of the multidisciplinary mental health team, and an examination of the relationships of varying levels by multidisciplinary mental health teams. Throughout the paper I make connections between the literature and my observations and experiences from my practicum. I conclude that many of the strengths challenges that are discussed in the literature reflect similar strengths and challenges that exist at PAPHR Mental Health Services.