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Valued Yet Still Not Fully Integrated: Social Workers' Experiences Practicing in Interprofessional Primary Healthcare
Rachelle Ashcroft1, Simon Lam2, Keith Adamson3
1Rachelle Ashcroft, PhD, is associate professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V4, Canada.
Health & Social Work
|June 9, 2026
Summary
Social workers in primary healthcare (PHC) teams feel valued but have limited decision-making influence. Enhancing collaboration and addressing hierarchies are key for better integration of these essential health professionals.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare professional integration
- Social work in primary healthcare
- Interprofessional team dynamics
Background:
- Social work is a major health and social service profession, yet its role in interprofessional primary healthcare (PHC) teams is under-researched.
- Understanding social workers' experiences is crucial for improving their integration into PHC settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of social workers operating within interprofessional PHC teams in Ontario, Canada.
- To identify factors influencing social worker integration and collaboration within these teams.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive qualitative study design.
- Conducted 10 focus groups with 57 social workers embedded in PHC teams.
- Utilized thematic analysis for inductive data interpretation.
Main Results:
- Social workers are valued by their teams and enhance team functioning.
- The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted team relationships.
- Collaboration requires intentional effort and opportunities; challenges include lack of physical space and limited decision-making influence.
- Clinical supervision was found to mitigate feelings of isolation.
Conclusions:
- Social workers are recognized for their value in PHC teams, but their influence on organizational decisions is restricted.
- Addressing implicit hierarchies through shared leadership or collaborative frameworks is recommended for improved integration.
- Further research and strategic implementation are needed to optimize social work roles in interprofessional primary healthcare.
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