Professionals’ perceptions towards effective partnerships with parents of children with learning disabilities : a qualitative study

Abstract

Aim: There is a vast amount of research regarding parent-professional partnerships, however there is no local research about these partnerships, especially using a qualitative approach. This study aims to explore in depth the professionals’ experience in working with families, as well as their views and attitudes towards such partnerships. The research question for this study is: What are the professionals’ attitudes towards parent-professionals partnerships? As such this research aims to find what the professionals’ attitudes are and whether they are open to involve parents in their practice. Method: A qualitative approach was chosen for this study and five professionals who work with children with learning disabilities were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Professionals shared their perceptions and experience in working with parents. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts. Results: Six super-ordinate themes emerged from the participants’ accounts, these are: parental involvement, emotional involvement with parents and children, the benefits of effective partnerships, barriers to establish effective partnerships, characteristics of effective partnerships and dealing with different cultures. The results were discussed in the light of the two main theories used as the theoretical framework for this study, which are, the family system’s theory and Brofenbrenner’s ecological theory. The findings were also discussed in relation to the relevant literature. Conclusion: This study provided an insight on what parent-professional partnerships involve and the characteristics a professional should have to achieve effective partnerships. It also highlighted the benefits these partnerships provide to the parents and children with learning disabilities, as well as the barriers the professionals face. It emphasised the valuable role parents play in these partnerships since they are the ones who know the child the most.