Teamworking is represented as playing a central role in the improvement of health and social care. However, it is mentioned so often, with so many different promises, that there is danger of it being seen as misguided rhetoric rather than practical reality. Although, in theory, working in teams sounds easy, doing it in practice within the complex systems today's practitioners are faced with is incredibly difficult, complicated and often frustrating. This accessible text introduces a range of theories, models and research to demonstrate the benefits - and pitfalls - inherent in teamworking. In addition, it provides frameworks and practical advice on how inter-agency teams may be made to function more effectively. Illustrated throughout by real examples from practice, this no-nonsense book will be ideal for students, practitioners, team leaders, managers and policy makers in health and social care.

...this book provides an interesting and stimulating reading for those who build and work in multidisciplinary teams as well as for policy makers. International Journal of Integrated Care, Vol 8, 2008. Overall, this book is comprehensive and well structured, giving students, nurses and managers the opportunity to become more self-aware and work towards better partnership working. Nursing Standard, Vol 23:3, 2008 Overall this title does contain many useful insights into teams and team working, and will be of value for many who are working with and developing teams. CNWL NHS Foundation Trust newsletter

Kim Jelphs is a Senior Fellow working at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham. Her wide-ranging consultancy experiences, together with 25 years of working in the NHS holding senior clinical and managerial posts in both the acute and primary care sectors, has fashioned her enthusiasm and learning in working with and developing effective teams. Helen Dickinson is a researcher at the Health Services Management Centre, with an interest in evaluating the outcomes of health and social care partnerships. Recent research and consultancy work include producing research-based but accessible discussion papers for funders such as the Wanless Review of the funding of adult social care, the NHS Institute and the Care Services Improvement Partnership.