Intersectoral Collaboration in Support of Youth in Residential Care: A Scoping Review of Effects, Barriers and Good Practices

This research was conducted as part of an action research project supporting intersectoral care experiments in Flanders for minors in residential care. This article details some of the questions the stakeholders in this project had at the start of such a project, as well as the results from a scoping literature review conducted to answer these questions. This scoping literature review was conducted on four databases, returning 23 articles providing information on the effects of, good practices of, or barriers for intersectoral care for looked-after minors. Results show that research on this specific topic for this population is scarce, mostly qualitative, and mostly from the perspective of staff rather than clients. Reports on the effects of intersectoral initiatives seem cautiously encouraging. Many possible obstacles for coordinated or shared care have been identified, with difficulties in communication, information sharing and lack of shared vision as prominent ones. Many potentially good practices have however also been identified in this review that can help collaborative partners overcome several of the barriers. Intersectoral collaboration in the care for minors in residential settings seems to have positive effects like better permanency and staff wellbeingGood practices include getting to know people working in other sectors and having formal proceduresJoint case planning, intersectoral training and consultation options can lead to familiarity with people in other sectorsLack of communication and disagreements about decision making are frequently mentioned as hindering intersectoral care in this population