Interdisciplinary Team Working in Neuro-Rehabilitation: Co-Design of Model and Competency Framework

Background A core component of the Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Network (MCRN) Neuro-Rehabilitation model of care being rolled out across Ireland is the interdisciplinary team (IDT) approach to Neuro-Rehabilitation service delivery, yet no formal and standardised guidance exists to support teams to deliver this. There were three objectives to this project, 1.) define what is meant by IDT working across MCRN Neuro-Rehabilitation services in Ireland, 2.) co-design a model for IDT working across MCRN Neuro-Rehabilitation services in Ireland, and 3.) co-develop a competency framework for IDT working across MCRN Neuro-Rehabilitation services in Ireland. Methods This was a multi-stage and multi-perspective study. The first stage involved a rapid review to identify and synthesise existing data relating to models of team working and competency frameworks for team working in healthcare settings. The second stage of the project included a three-part co-design workshop series with healthcare professionals and public and patient involvement representative partners for the MCRN Neuro-Rehabilitation services in Ireland. Results A total of 24 records met the inclusion criteria for the rapid review, nine with models for team working and 15 with competency frameworks for team working; however, none specific to Neuro-Rehabilitation were identified. Outputs from the co-design workshop series include an agreed definition for IDT working in Neuro-Rehabilitation, a multi-layered conceptual model for IDT working in Neuro-Rehabilitation, and an overarching competency framework describing domains and competencies relevant to all IDT members across MCRN Neuro-Rehabilitation services in Ireland. Conclusions The outputs from this project are the first of their kind in the field of Neuro-Rehabilitation. The successful uptake and implementation of these outputs in clinical practice will lend itself to consistent and comparable quality of rehabilitation across services, in addition to guiding what education and training structures need to be established to support healthcare professionals working in IDTs across MCRN Neuro-Rehabilitation services.