A critical reflection on process of a collaborative inquiry in a mental health service.

Collaborative inquiry involves a group of people in iterative examination of a shared experience, action to address identified concerns, and reflection. We describe our attempt to conduct a collaborative inquiry into the roles and experiences of health professionals designated as recovery champions within a mental health service. Our linked goals were to work with champions to support the desired shift in approach to care and implementation of recovery practices, and to gather data to develop our own understanding of the service culture. The inquiry opened up a communicative space in which robust discussion elucidated the complexities of implementing ‘recovery’ within a highly governed and scrutinised environment. Numerous problems and some opportunities for practice improvement were identified but with too little time and emotional space to engender group identity and work through ambiguity inherent in collaborative inquiry, no actions were implemented. However, champions came to appreciate substantial progress made and understand the service as one ‘in recovery’. They developed a sense of themselves as agents of change and agreed to continue the process independently. Review of the process sheds light on successes and limitations, drawing attention to the importance of context and realistic planning when considering such an inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]