The Collaborative Consultation Pyramid (CCP): Development of a novel model and tool to guide collaborative consultation in school-based occupational therapy practice.

Abstract

The profession of occupational therapy views collaboration as central to the maintenance of professional conduct and delivery of quality of services in partnership with diverse groups of clients and other stakeholders. This is paramount in complex service contexts such as school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) where occupational therapists are expected to effectively collaborate with multiple stakeholders throughout service provision. The overall aim of this dissertation was to respond to recommendations from previous research through the development of the Collaborative Consultation Pyramid (CCP) model and Reflective Tool (CCP-RT). The CCP model and CCP-RT provide a means for occupational therapists and/or key stakeholders to rate their collaborative practice and decide how they will work together in planning the service provision and cohesiveness of their teamwork.

This research involved five consecutive phases: I) conducting a background literature review to understand what is already known about SBOT collaborative consultation, II) developing the CCP model through a scoping review methodology and developing the CCP-RT on the basis of the model, III) establishing the content validity of the CCP model and CCP-RT through 18 individual interviews with occupational therapists, IV) exploring the credibility, utility, and feasibility of the CCP-RT using critical reflective inquiry with three expert occupational therapists, and V) refining the CCP model. Findings of this research presented initial establishment of the overall content validity of the CCP model, and the usefulness of the CCP-RT as a valued self-assessment tool to guide collaborative practice and reasoning. The contribution of this research involved the development of a novel comprehensive model and tool to guide collaborative practice in SBOT which could be highly beneficial to utilise in the academic education of occupational therapy, supervision and mentorship, and continuing professional development