Understanding Partnership Working

Inter professional working is formed from different health and social care professionals working together towards a common goal to meet the needs of a service user. It is about developing relationships within and between organisations and services involved in planning and delivering care and support to the service users we support. By working collaboratively it brings together different types of professionals to share their particular knowledge, experience, skills, occupational values and perspectives to improve service

It is essential that you work in partnership with all of the people surrounding the individuals you are supporting in order to ensure the best possible support and care is provided. This will include carers, families, CMHP's and other people who are play an important role in a persons well being. In order to work well in partnership, there has to be good, honest and open communication.

There are six types of philosophies considered in working in partnership. One of the philosophies is empowerment, empowerment in health and social care is where by users of service claim for their rights, responsibilities and individuality. Health and social care settings that involve empowerment are places such as Hospitals, Surgeries, Opticians, Dentist, Schools, Nurseries and Residential homes. (Ask Jeeves, 2013) Independence in health and social care is when users of service carry out their daily activities independently. For example a self-caring user of service doing their own shopping on a weekly basis or however many times they need to go shopping. Service provider has to comply with the philosophy of Autonomy according to the Health and Social care Act 2008 and Regulations 2010 from which the outcomes are derived. (Love and Wilde, 2013). For example, a patient is being discharged from hospital where he or she will take part in making their care plan by deciding what sort of help they need.

It is very important that you work in partnership with your colleagues and all other people. This will include carers, families, advocates, doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, other health professionals, social workers, voluntary organisations and other people.

The essence of a partnership is that it is collaboration amongst equals, with the recognition that by working

Collaboration is the essence of community health practice (Vollman, Anderson, & McFarlane, 2012, pg. 292). Collaboration prevents duplication of effort, creating more publicity and credibility than accomplished alone and achieving maximum power on health promotion. Collaborators within the “Seniors’ on

Consequently, it was recognised that interprofessional working impacts substantially on the quality of care. Core recommendations were made and guidance was published to support health and social care staff to overcome barriers and limitations of an active collaboration between different agencies.

There is no doubt regarding the benefits we could achieve by working partnership in health and social care setting, I will explain the importance of working with different parties in detail as below.

T5 Working in partnership (families; multi-agency; more than one team) Working in partnership is key to benefitting children and young people in early year settings. Partnerships are formed with practitioners, families, carers and multi-agencies. Multi-agency work is different type of services that share the same interests and objectives brought together to work towards purposes. Whilst integrated work is everyone supporting children and young people working together for the child, meeting needs and improving life’s. Partnerships are formed with practitioners and families through the key worker system, communication, overcoming barriers, .

Partnership involves working together with iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to develop strategies for Māori health gain and appropriate health and disability services.

Partnership is when two or more organisations work together, showing cooperation and collaboration. This can provide better care and support for service users. For example, different funds working together, instead of working individually and stressing. Another example, a social worker and the health visitor will need to work together, share ideas and use different skills to develop a support plan that will benefit children and families. This also promotes multi-disciplinary working. Partnership thus can reduce conflicts and enhance team working skills as professionals can work together, sharing responsibilities and ensuring need led approaches are met and set. This can be done by reviewing care plans and offering support.

Partnership working is working together effectively with people, professionals, agencies and organisations to enhance the wellbeing of people and support positive and improved outcomes. We have effective communication systems in place that enable us to work in partnership with various agencies. Such as:

“I believe that the key to a successful Nursing home is quality focus, open and honest communication and partnership working.” – Hannah Parry

professionals: if you are a partner with the person you support, you are working with them to fulfill

For instance, when two different professionals, such as carers and nurses, work together in a team as a form of partnership work, certain responsibilities in professional conduct or perspectives could differ from each other. In this case, these two different parties should reach to an agreement of shared objectives within the team in relation to work delegation balancing the possession of power, and be open to constructive feedback and ideas through developing a frank partnership relationship (Department of Health (DH), 2004).