Managing Multicultural Elder Care Teams and Building Trust Among Team Members : A Qualitative Interview Study of First-Line Managers in a Swedish Municipal Elder Care Unit.

Sammanfattning

In recent years, the number of multicultural teams working in the municipal elder care sector has increased. Along with this increase, several challenges have emerged due to cultural differences, making it difficult for first-line managers to lead these teams efficiently while maintaining service quality. This study aims to explore how firstline managers in elder care homes address challenges arising from cultural differences and building trust within multicultural teams. This study adopted a qualitative exploratory approach, using semi-structured interviews with six first-line managers from an elder care home in a Swedish municipality. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The aim was to highlight their experiences and perspectives regarding the study's objectives. The results showed that communication barriers, differing conceptions of authority, challenges in building trust, and a lack of training and activities tailored to multicultural teams were among the main obstacles these teams faced. The findings also pointed out the importance of inclusive leadership practices in creating a psychologically safe work environment where authority barriers are reduced, team members feel comfortable expressing their opinions and participating freely, and all individuals receive support and appreciation from their leaders. This contributes to building trust, enhancing cooperation, and consequently improving team performance and the quality of care provided.