Objectives: This paper aims to show how effective teamworking can be achieved in Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), in the context of recovery-focused care.
Methods: A narrative review of various governmental policy documents and selected papers relevant to teamworking and recovery-focused care within mental health services, in an Irish context. Findings Effective teamworking within CMHTs is a prerequisite to the provision of quality, recovery-focused care. It requires the management of various environmental (e.g. adopting a 'recovery' model of mental health), structural (e.g. sharing of responsibilities and capabilities) and process (e.g. utilising a clear referral pathway) factors that influence teamworking, as CMHTs develop over time.
Conclusions: Completion by CMHT members of teamworking and other evaluative measures can assist teams in highlighting potential interventions that may improve recovery-focused team functioning and effectiveness.