Integrated care: Using “sensemaking” to understand how organisations are working together to transform local health and social care services
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 4 January 2018
Issue publication date: 6 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to try and understand how several organisations in one area in England are working together to develop an integrated care programme. Weick’s (1995) concept of sensemaking is used as a lens to examine how the organisations are working collaboratively and maintaining the programme.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative methods included: non-participant observations of meetings, interviews with key stakeholders and the collection of documents relating to the programme. These provided wider contextual information about the programme. Comprehensive field notes were taken during observations and analysed alongside interview transcriptions using NVIVO software.
Findings
This paper illustrates the importance of the construction of a shared identity across all organisations involved in the programme. Furthermore, the wider policy discourse impacted on how the programme developed and influenced how organisations worked together.
Originality/value
The role of leaders from all organisations involved in the programme was of significance to the overall development of the programme and the sustained momentum behind the programme. Leaders were able to generate a “narrative of success” to drive the programme forward. This is of particular relevance to evaluators, highlighting the importance of using multiple methods to allow researchers to probe beneath the surface of programmes to ensure that evidence moves beyond this public narrative.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding was provided by the UK National Institute for Health Research (Grant No. 12/130/33). This paper represents independent research funded by the NIHR, Project No. 12/130/33. Views and opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NHS, NIHR, NETSCC, HS&DR or Department of Health.
Citation
Warwick-Giles, L. and Checkland, K. (2018), "Integrated care: Using “sensemaking” to understand how organisations are working together to transform local health and social care services", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 85-100. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-03-2017-0057
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited