ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 has placed major demands on healthcare services and practitioners (HCP's). Research has highlighted resilience, new skills and new ways of working. However, little attention has been paid as to whether challenges faced may have demonstrated or influenced effective change in working practices of individuals and teams delivering neurorehabilitation services to children and young people following an acquired brain injury. Patients and Methods: Exploratory qualitative study. Fourteen HCP's (10 female, 4 male) across 6 occupational disciplines participated in semi-structured interviews (February-May 2021). Transcriptions analysed using thematic content analysis managed in NVivo. Five broad topic areas explored (1) professional roles, role identity and professional autonomy, (2) role boundaries, (3) team working, (4) collective identity in relation to organisational challenges, (5) working practices. Results: A wealth of data was retrieved, analysis of findings from three of the key theme categories presented: Individual Professionalism, Working as Team and, Delivery of Rehabilitation services. Although there was much uncertainty, rapidly changing information and constraints imposed by the pandemic, the professionalism of the team was evident as HCP's regrouped and reviewed how service provision could continue. Personal and professional growth saw teams collectively flourish. Creative solutions led to teams working differently and more cohesively. A greater appreciation of team roles and goals within the specialist environment of paediatric rehabilitation emerged. Conclusions: Changes in structure, processes and provision of services necessitated greater interdisciplinary team integration and sharing of skills and expertise. As confidence and competencies of HCP's grew the potential for a more 24/7 approach to rehabilitation gained wide staff acceptance.