‘How hard can it be’ - managing conflict in an interprofessional discharge team in England

Purpose: This research study investigated how the health and social care professionals confront and manage conflict in the inter-professional discharge team. It also explored why health and social care professionals apply specific conflict management strategies to facilitate a safe and timely discharge from an acute mental health hospital in England. Research Design: The study utilised a qualitative research methodology using semi-structured interviews from psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, housing and welfare right officers. Findings: The research findings indicated that the way professionals confront conflict determine the success rate of its management. The findings also revealed that professionals confronted and managed the conflict differently, but essentially they relied on compromising and accommodating conflict management strategies to facilitate the discharge of service users who have mental health needs. However, some professionals intentionally avoided conflict, thereby allowing bureaucratic rules, regulations and hierarchical power to influence the conflict situation. Additionally, some health professionals used their positional and perceived professional power to impose their resolutions to other professionals. Originality: This research showed how organisational characteristics such as bureaucracy, professional hierarchy, as well as mental health legislation are able to influence the outcome of conflict between members of an inter-professional discharge team. The research also highlighted the range of conflict management methods employed by different professionals, and how these are used in a crisis situation. Research Implications / Implications: Further research is needed regarding the use of conflict management strategies in acute and non-acute mental health hospitals. Practical Implications: Both health and social care professionals need to understand how to confront and deal with conflict effectively to facilitate prompt and safe discharge