Mission impossible? Collaboration work in domestic violence

This article examines multi-agency interaction aimed at protecting women from intimate partner violence, both preventively and through support for those who have experienced abuse. The article interprets these issues as stemming from the need for organisations to protect their autonomy while simultaneously building trust and collaboration. Drawing on Anselm Strauss’s concept of articulation work, the article uses vignettes, interviews and focus groups with social workers and other professionals to explore how this tension manifests in practice. The findings reveal an ongoing conflict between maintaining organisational boundaries and fostering cooperation. Professionals express frustration through such practices as blaming work and boundary-marking work yet also engage in trust-building initiatives and collaborative efforts. The interviews provide examples of strategies to enhance cooperation, highlighting that successful multi-agency work requires continuous input to build trust. Overall, the article underscores the value of multi-agency safeguarding work and suggests that increased awareness of the mechanisms at play is essential when agencies are required to collaborate.