A Case Study of a Maternity Service Development Programme

In 2011 a Maternity Services Development Programme (MSDP) was implemented in one South of England city. The programme aimed to promote effective collaborative working between maternity services (midwives) and other service providers (health visitors, social workers, Children Centre staff, specialist and volunteer services) to improve outcomes for service users (women and families). The MSDP utilised local Children's Centres, which provide community focused family support, to co-locate maternity services and other service providers. The rationale to improve collaborative working is supported by evidence suggesting poor collaborative working contributes to poorer outcomes (Laming Report 2003; Marmot Review 2010). Therefore programmes such as the MSDP could potentially improve short and long-term outcomes for those accessing maternity services.

The proposed research uses a case study approach to collect and analyse predominantly qualitative data, and some quantitative data. This method will allow for analysis of the MSDP and understanding of its influence on maternity services and collaboration, and will aim to illuminate perceived strengths and challenges of the MSDP evident to services providers. Data will be collected using observation episodes (e.g. participant meetings) to observe collaboration, and interviews to explore experiences. Additionally documents will be analysed to observe documented evidence of collaborative practice. Pre-existing statistical data will also be used to highlight changes in indicators of service user well-being since the implementation of the MSDP.

The research will recruit a cross-section of service providers (no service users) that work in or with maternity services from four of the nine city Children Centres. Invitation letters will be circulated to potential participants through participating Children Centre management, where they will be invited to participate in the observation and interview data collection activities. They will then be able to select the extent of their participation.

The inclusion criteria for this study is:

• Service providers working in, or from a local city Children's Centre (this may be in a practice base or working in the community);
• Service providers working in, or with maternity services;
• Service providers caring for families with women who are pregnant, or under the remit of maternity services (typically up to and including 6 weeks post-natally).

The exclusion criteria for this study is:

• Service providers caring for families with women no longer under the remit of maternity services (typically over 6 weeks post-natally).
• Service users (all women and families who use maternity services, inclusive of those considered vulnerable - this may be inclusive of some volunteer organisations who also provide services within children's centres).