Building effective working relationships when working with Court of Protection clients

When supporting clients, strong professional relationships are at the forefront of what we do. With so many people involved, from case managers and medical professionals to legal teams and family members, collaboration, clarity, and trust are essential to achieving the best outcomes. 

In this part of “Psychological support for clients in the Court of Protection“,  we spoke with Dr Shabnam Berry-Khan, founder of PsychWorks Associates, about how professionals can maintain effective working relationships, what makes collaboration successful, and how we can all work together to help clients achieve their goals. 

Clarity of Roles and Respect for Boundaries

As Dr Berry-Khan shares in this episode, the foundation of any successful working relationship is clarity about roles. “The team being clear about each other’s roles is really important,” she explains. “Sometimes the case manager role is not always well understood or is hard to explain in lay terms. But knowing what my role is, and also knowing when not to step into someone else’s discipline, is crucial.” 

Clear boundaries help professionals avoid duplication of effort or stepping on each other’s toes. They also help clients and families understand who does what and where they can go for specific types of support. This respect for roles forms the basis of a collaborative environment, where each professional contributes their specialist expertise without overstepping into another’s area. 

Communication, Consistency and Mutual Respect

We understand as legal teams that working relationships rely on more than just clarity of roles. Open communication, collaboration, mutual respect, and consistency are all key ingredients. “Showing up consistently matters,” Shabnam says. “We all get busy, but checking in regularly and not needing to be chased builds trust.” 

This consistency also helps transform multidisciplinary teams into interdisciplinary ones, where professionals work towards shared goals rather than just parallel ones.  

One practical way to strengthen that connection is through a shared formulation or plan. This is a collective understanding of the client’s needs, long-term goals, and the strategies needed to support them. Each professional can then set their short-term goals in alignment with this shared plan. “It’s reassuring for clients, families, and legal teams to know everyone is connected to the same narrative,” Shabnam says. “It guides interventions and sets the pathway toward the life the client wants to live.”

Aligning with Clients’ Goals and Values

Understanding what truly matters to the client is vital for effective collaboration. As Court of Protection solicitors, we often find that having a clear sense of a client’s personal goals and interests, even those beyond rehabilitation, is important. It might be something deeply personal, like travelling abroad every year, and we will do our best to make those ambitions possible. It keeps the client at the heart of every decision that is made with them and on their behalf.  

Transparency is equally important. We focus on communicating clearly and with empathy, recognising that legal principles are not always black and white. Flexibility is key and we recognise that what works for one client might not work for another, and cultural or personal values must always be taken into account. These factors are central to how we make decisions when supporting our clients.  

Seeing the Bigger Picture and Staying Client-Focused

When professionals work collaboratively, they are better able to view the situation through a broader lens. This client-focused approach is especially important when navigating challenging conversations, something we frequently encounter.  These are rarely straightforward, and approaching them with transparency, sensitivity, and collaboration is key to maintaining trust and supporting the client effectively. 

We recognise that collaboration requires more than following procedures. It also involves recognising the unique context of each case. Cultural background, pre-injury beliefs, and long-held values all shape the decisions that need to be made and the support that will be most effective. 

Building and maintaining effective working relationships is about more than coordination — it is about creating a shared purpose and understanding amongst professionals. We strive to create a collaborative environment where professionals, families, and clients can work together.