A Comprehensive Qualitative Synthesis of Current Empirical Insights from Behind-the-Scenes Conversations in Social Work Practice

Abstract

In social work, behind-the-scenes conversations, also referred to as backstage discussions—particularly case-related discussions without client presence—are vital yet understudied aspects of professional practice. These closed-door conversations offer space for collective reflection, ethical deliberation, and decision-making among professionals. This study took the form of a comprehensive qualitative synthesis. The primary objective was to conduct a preliminary exploration of recent empirical studies using naturalistic data published in peer-reviewed English-language journals, focusing on these backstage discussions. The analysis identified three core content areas discussed by practitioners, namely: (1) client-related issues, such as risks, needs and intervention strategies; (2) inter-professional dynamics, including collaboration challenges, role conflicts, and workload management; and (3) organisational concerns, such as policy constraints and procedural discussions. Four communication modalities were noted across the studies, namely: formal meetings; informal exchanges; written records; and digital interactions. A key finding highlighted the inconsistent use of the term “disputes”, which alternately refers to professional disagreements and client-related conflicts. This inconsistency underscores the need for more precise conceptual definitions in future research. The synthesis also warned against interpreting such dialogues solely through formal goals or ideologies, emphasising their practical and relational complexities. Overall, the synthesis revealed a significant research gap which calls for deeper, practice-based investigations into intra- and inter-professional communication in social work.