• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.155-183
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• 2010

Despite the increase in the demands on collaboration between health and social welfare, the success of such schemes have been limited. The extant literatures tends to be dominated by explanations for needs or short-term outcomes of collaboration rather than systematic follow-up research to apply to the frontline. At the same time, there is no attempt to apply the theories related to collaboration in order to discuss the situation. This study explores the factors hindering such collaborative working in the frontline, through semi-structured interviews with practitioners involved in two pilot projects. A theoretical framework (Equilibrium Model-Sensemaking, E-S model) which combined Equilibrium Model of 'Interorganizational Network' of Benson(1975) and 'Sensmaking' of Weick(1995) for conceptualiing aspects of collaborations such as working atmosphere and agency was applied to the empirical study of the Public Health and Welfare Office(1995-1999) and the Social Welfare office(2004-2006) pilot projects. Data were collected over three months from 8 pilot project areas with practitioners and managers from health and social welfare. The findings show significant regional differences between pilot areas, such as the presence of active leaders and co-location, had a major impact on the ability of practitioners to effectively integrate services. In other words, active leaders tended to influence practitioners' motivation, while co-location encouraging communication between both practitioners, and thus seemed to influence the practices of collaborative working. Furthermore, through E-S model, it is interpreted that this kind of positive experiences about collaborations may impact on the current practitioners' comprehensive perspective towards health and social welfare services in general. The findings could help policy makers consider the practical ways to break down the barriers between health and social welfare.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.125-147
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to propose the factors affecting collaboration between community nurses and social workers in Korea. Data that is used in this study, were collected from 295 provider respondents by questionnaire, additionally from telephone survey and secondary data review. This study focuses on the working relationship between professionals in the field of health and social care. Based on the literature review, this study proposes a conceptual framework for collaboration between nurses and social workers in community health and social care. The dependent variable in this study is collaboration. It reveals whether or not the inter-professional works and shows the level of collaboration. The independent variables are categorized in: the client characteristics (frailty of client, client-provider relationship); the provider characteristics (specialization, perception of interdependence, perception of the other professional); the organization characteristics (closeness of the other professional, autonomy, on-the-job training, evaluation-reward); and the community characteristics (urbanization, capacity of resources). Major findings are as follows: First, the factors that appear to have the strongest impact on whether or not inter-professional working of respondent sampled are: the perception of other professional; the perception of interdependence; closeness of, the, other professional; and the frailty of client. Secondly, the factors that found to have the most significant effect on level of cooperation are: the perception of, the other professional; on-the-job training; evaluation-reward; and the closeness of the other professional.