Relationships Within and Outside of the Discipline of Child and Youth Care

摘要

This article explores the practitioner's relationships with colleagues, on teams and with professionals from other disciplines and systems. While there has been much analysis and discussion about relationships between practitioners and clients, there has been relatively little attention paid to the professional relationships that are at the center of the practitioner's day-to-day work. It is within these relationships that practitioners encounter both opportunities and challenges in positioning themselves effectively to deliver a positive service to clients. As such, in this article are descriptions of the relationships amongst child and youth care practitioners, between practitioners and other professionals as well as between practitioners and other systems. Several core themes are identified including the importance of communication and networking as well as the role of power imbalances in defining the nature of such relationships.