Case Sharing and Co-working
Clusters have a range of ways of supporting RTLB with their case work. These include case sharing, co-working, collegial peer review, and co-facilitation.
All these types of professional support benefit from:
- a mutual understanding of shared purpose
- clear negotiation of roles and responsibilities
- professional trust
- open, respectful communication.
Case Sharing
Case sharing to provide professional support can be both formal and informal. Examples include having a colleague or a Practice Leader as a "critical friend" to:
- review case work
- encourage and support
- provide honest and often candid feedback
- speak truthfully and constructively
- ask provoking questions
- provide another lens
- advocate for the success of the work.
Coaching and mentoring may be provided for RTLB by a colleague at a stage of the He Pikorua Practice Framework such as an experienced RTLB or Practice Leader may work alongside another RTLB at the Āta whakaaro, or sense-making phase.
Case sharing and review takes two forms – informal or structured. For example, Dynamic Ecological Analysis follows a structured problem-solving process.
A review may also allow for more cultural considerations such as applying Te Whare Tapa Wha or Fonofale frameworks.
Co-working
A request for support may be allocated to more than one RTLB when:
- it is particularly complex
- greater capacity to address a range of inter-related issues is required
- multiple skill sets will benefit the collaboration
- an RTLB stands to gain specific knowledge and skill to broaden their understanding and capability
- newly appointed RTLB are being supported to strengthen their practice.
A request for support may be co-worked with Ministry learning support practitioners or other professionals when:
- continuity of support provides an easier and more efficient pathway
- transitions between services or settings are the focus
- co-ordinating the planning and delivery of support benefits all
- access to a wider pool of knowledge and expertise enables creative problem-solving
- specialist practitioners’ skill sets strengthen the collaboration to progress intervention aims
- working together provides safety
- shared resources enhance outcomes for mokopuna, their families, whānau, and teachers.