A Case Study of a Maternity Service Development Programme

BACKGROUND: In 2011 a Maternity Services Development Programme was implemented in a South of England city, to promote effective collaborative working between maternity services (midwives) and other service providers (health visitors, social workers, specialist services etc.) by co-locating services in local childrens centres. The progamme ultimately aimed to improve care for local service users (women and their families), especially those considered vulnerable. Implemented changes were based on evidence that suggests poor collaborative working contributes to poorer outcomes. RATIONALE: To explore the impact of the programme on local service providers, and by association service user care. AIM: To explore a localised Maternity Services Development Programme, identifying how inter- agency collaborative working occurs, and the service providers perceived benefits and challenges on collaboration, and by association service user care. METHODOLOGY: The proposed research uses a case study approach to collect and analyse predominantly qualitative data, and some quantitative data. Data will be collected using observation episodes (e.g. participant meetings) to observe collaboration, and interviews to explore these experiences. Additionally documents will be analysed to observe documented evidence of collaborative practice. Pre-existing statistical data will also be used to highlight changes in indicators of service user well being since the implementation of the Maternity Services Development Programme. PARTICIPANTS: A cross-section of service providers (no service users) working in or with maternity services from 4 of 9 city Children Centre's. FINDINGS: No current findings, data collection expected to start September 2015.