The critical work of social workers in person-centered care: insights from a cross-sector collaboration in Denmark for refugees with PTSD

Abstract

Siloed mental health and social services fail to meet complex care needs. Cross-sector collaborations are thus spreading, including those involving patients. However, pathways to success are scarcely studied. Guided by Interpretive Description methodology, we qualitatively explore the work of mental health social workers in facilitating collaboration between mental health services, employment services, and refugee patients with post-traumatic stress disorder in Denmark. We identify and elaborate on two types of work carried out by social workers that appear critical for the collaboration: relational work and negotiation work. This work ensures action plans resonate with the refugees’ needs and enable person-centered care.