Multi Professional Consultant Practice—What Is it and How Does the Role Contribute Systems Transformation?

Abstract

Healthcare systems are facing unprecedented need to respond to an ever-evolving context of providing safe person-centred care to its citizens and staff. This transformation requires a rethink of healthcare leadership. Systems leaders are critical for culture change; to support safe patient care, facilitate innovation, build person-centred teams, and develop a collaborative workforce. Education has been considered the panacea for leadership growth with current models closely connected to qualifications, distinct courses and micro-credentialing. Yet systems leaders need skills, capacities and experience which augment interprofessional teams to work and innovate in ways which are creative, satisfying and sustaining. These leaders facilitate interprofessional partnerships vertically and horizontally within an organisation. One such role is the Multi Professional Consultant Practitioner, who are expert practitioners and embedded researchers, with a strategic whole system approach, and value all voices toward improving patient and staff experience. This role has been predominantly developed within the United Kingdom. However, a global model would translate this role within health systems more broadly. Potential exists for integrated expertise to enable quality care across the system to meet the needs of their local communities. With this in mind, this scoping review aimed at exploring the Multi Professional Consultant Practitioner role-what it is and how it contributes to system transformation.