Communities of Practice in Health and Social Care

Book excerpt: Communities of Practice in Health and Social Care highlights howcommunities of practice (CoPs) can make service development andquality improvement in health and social care easier to initiateand more sustainable. Using a series of case studies from the UK and Australia the bookdemonstrates how the theory of CoPs is implemented in the deliveryof health and social care and highlights the associated potential,complexities, advantages and disadvantages. Communities of Practice in Health and Social Care equipspractitioners, managers, educators and practice mentors with theknowledge and skills to facilitate the development and maintenanceof Communities of Practice and highlights how the effects ofCommunities of Practice might be made explicit.