ABSTRACT
A significant element of people’s experience of integrated care is based on their interactions with the various professionals who provide their support. This chapter considers several approaches which seek to facilitate changes in professional behaviour. These reflect the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care in that practice is not only determined by the skills and knowledge of the professionals but also the physical and service environment in which they are expected to work. Supporting professional practice to become more collaborative is therefore a common focus of integrated care strategies. Training and development to support professionals to be able to demonstrate the competences has been delivered across all of their careers stages — pre-qualification in undergraduate degrees, post-graduate in masters and specialist professional qualifications, and through continuing professional development. Social workers and general practitioners are the points of entry and lead co-ordinators of publicly funded health and social care services.
