Collaborative work between different professionals working in public services for Children with Special Educational Needs in Malta: Current applications and pathways to best future practice

This study focuses on Collaborative work between different professionals working within public services for Children with Special Educational Needs in Malta. The research adopts a mixed methods design. Data gathering involved the use of a questionnaire (n=60), interviews (n=3) and a focus group (n=7). The epistemology adopted involves pragmatism and Collaborative work is mainly explored in the light of Systems theory. Results indicate that Collaborative work takes place in Malta, and that most professionals report and agree that it is prevalent within Maltese services. While a few of the participants reported that some services have limited collaboration with each other, each participant reported valuing Collaborative work and believing that others generally value Collaborative work too, including most managers within services. Collaboration in Malta is mostly informal and unstructured, has elements of 'Interdisciplinary' Collaboration and is often characterised by sharing of information and sometimes also resources and skills. Professionals believe that there are various pathways by which collaboration can take place most effectively. The approach adopted to improve collaboration is likely to be most effective by addressing the need for promoting Collaborative cultures, increasing centralisation and providing training in Collaborative practices. The approach also needs to overcome challenges including miscommunication between different services and territorialism. A number of positive examples of Collaborative work have already been established and many opportunities for development exist, facilitating the route to applying specific models of collaboration that can target the culturally unique structure of the Maltese Children's services.