Important Information about Networking in the Healthcare Industry

This document provides information about networking in the healthcare industry. It discusses the features and benefits of collaborative relationships and explores opportunities for organizations through effective networking.

Important Information
Resource and Assessment Information
Resources and Assessments are written and designed by Aspire to Succeed Pty Ltd and include a range of
the types of scenarios, templates and checklists an Industry Based organisation might use as part of its
Quality Systems. These include documents that form part of a framework for compliance and/or operational
policies and procedures.
Copyright and Trademark Statement
The Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) protects this material. Requests and enquiries concerning this
material should be directed in writing to:
Disclaimer
This product has been prepared by Aspire to Succeed Pty Ltd using their best endeavours to ensure contents
are correct and accurate at time of release. Aspire to Succeed Pty Ltd does not give any warranty nor accept
any liability in relation to the contents or information added by parties during contextualisation and use. If
any law prohibits the exclusion of such liability, Aspire to Succeed Pty Ltd limits its liability to the extent
permitted by law.
Important Information about this unit
Unit Level
This unit/s have been written in alignment with the requirements found in the CHC Training Package. All up
to date Versions of this unit can be found at -
This unit is delivered at both AQF – level 3 and 4. Therefore the unit is written and assessed at the higher
level to ensure that students gain the knowledge and skills to the unit outcome.
Employment Outcomes applicable to this unit
Level 4
 Accommodation Support
Worker
 Assistant Hostel Supervisor
 Behavioural Support Officer
 Care Supervisor
 Care Team Leader
 Community
- Assistant Worker
- Development Officer
- Leisure Officer
- Recreation Activity Assistant
- Rehabilitation Worker
- Rehabilitation and Support
Worker
- Support Worker
- Program Coordinator
 Day Activity Worker
 Disability
- Day Support
- Local Area Coordinator
- Marketing Coordinator
- Officer
- Senior Worker
- Service Officer
- Social Educator
- Social trainer
- Supervisor
- Support Assistant (Schools)
- Support Facilitator
- Team Leader
 Diversional Therapy
Assistant
 Job coordinator
 Lifestyle Support Officer
 Mental Health Outreach
Worker
 Outreach Officer
 Personal Care
- Assistant
- Giver
- Senior Assistant
- Worker
 Project Officer
 Recreational Activities Officer
 Residential Care
- Worker
- Officer
 Weekend Recreational
Activities Officer

Learner Instructions
Resources to complete this unit of competency may include:
To establish overall competency for this unit you may utilise workplace resources such as the ones listed
below. You are not limited to, the following resources:
 Legislation
 Aged Care Act
 Disability Act
 Mental Health Act
 Industry and organisation service standards
 Industry and organisation codes of practice/ethics
 Accreditation standards
 International and national charters
 Organisation policy and procedure
 Residents/resident/clients/consumers
 Workplace documents
 Workplace
 Industry – web
Hints and Tips
 Attend all training sessions as this will assist with your knowledge and understanding of the unit
requirements.
 If you need assistance please contact your trainer/assessor and ask for it
Visual materials may be provided to support your learning experience. In some cases the DVD may
not have been recorded in the specific environment in which you are training in, the content is
considered to be transferrable and relevant to the overall application of skills within the community
sector.
Learner Assessment Instructions
Assessment Process for the Learner
If you feel you can demonstrate or have prior skills for this unit, it is recommended that you inform your
assessor and apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for this.
Overall Assessment
As a learner you are required to demonstrate competency for each unit within your chosen qualification.
To achieve competency, follow the steps below:
1. Knowledge Assessment.
2. Application Assessment.
Additional Assessment
3. WHS and workplace practices will continue to be assessed throughout the course.
Conditions of Assessment
All work submitted must be your own work. Should you add content from other sources, please make
sure this is referenced in your assessment.
Assessor Assessment Instructions
Overall Assessment
Your learners are required to demonstrate competency for each unit within their chosen qualification.
Competency will need to be demonstrated through the following methods:

1. Knowledge Assessment.
2. Application Assessment.
3. Completed assessor confirmation
Note: should the learner be required to re-submit or repeat the assessment, a new assessment (full or
partial) is to be provided to the learner with a new assessment cover sheet.

Part A – Written Questions
1. Tick the box for the industry you work in. S NS
Aged Care  Disability  Employment Services  Community
Linking

HACC  Mental
Health
 Residential Services  Other 
2. In your own terms, write a definition for networking. S

NS
Networking is the procedure and action of interacting with other person to exchange the
essential information, it is used to develop professional as well as social contacts ( Boissevain,
and Mitchell, 2018). Networking is acquiring and sharing data between different divisions of
same organization to share info and resolve issues. It is the best way to build strategic and
beneficial relationship with consumers, business partners and workers within organization.
Effective workplace connections is a part of networking that help to build good relations
between management and its staff.
3. Provide one (1) example for each of the following network types in your chosen
industry.
S

NS
Network Types Example
 Informal networks It has no formal structure, individual respond to new work directives
act instantly to update their process to manage themselves in line
with firm policy. For example, when service providers conduct
meeting in order to make important discussion with experts is
considered as Informal networks. Another example of informal
network- when employees having lunch with workers from other
companies.

 Formal networks It shows the form of communication for example the way in which
formal interaction between health care provider and service user is
facilitated. For example, relations with national associations for some
specific reason is formal networks.
 Organisation/work
networks Work networks is very simple or easy way to build effective
communication. For example, the connection between human
resource management with their workers is work networks.
 Personal support
networks It is the set of human contacts known to person with whom that they
expect to communicate at intervals to help given set of functions. In
all steps of life everyone develops personal networks. For example,
essential networks will developed among workers through
opportunity meetings while in NHS.
 Social networks It is the practices of making relations of one social contacts by
creating connections through person, often by using social media
sites such as Twitter, Facebook and other sources. For example, most
people use social media sites that help to make good connection with
other people in society in short time period.
 Community networks It is computer based program that is intended to support societies or
communicates by augmenting, supporting and extending existing
social networks. For example, NHS engage in health care services
and also include in training system provided to its workers.
 Electronic network. Electronic network is developed through email and computer system
interactions. For example, in organization specialist used video
conferencing system to make face to face communication with its
senior regarding patients case.

4. Describe the features and benefits of a collaborative relationship. S
 NS
Collaborative relationships happen when two and more workers in company work together to
achieve the common objectives and goals. It relays on participation by at least two people who
agree to share, knowledge and information. Balance motivations, transferable skills, openly
share knowledge and risk taking is encouraged, are the features of collaborative relationship.
Several kinds of benefits organization or person gain by adopting collaborative relationship, it
helps to increase creativity, flexibility in work direction, increase learning and knowledge
possibilities and increase workers productivity.
5. List five (5) opportunities for an organisation as a result of effective networking. S
 NS
1. With the help of effective networking, NHS have the chance of strength its business connections at all
over the world.
2. Effective networking allow firm to get fresh and innovative ideas regarding health care services for its
patients.
3. It is true that good networking will outcomes in opportunities for company, it is referral, provide
opportunity to share information about services or products in wider group of people.
4. Effective networking give the best opportunity to firm for gaining different perspective.
5. It gives opportunity to make strong connection between service providers and management that help to
enhance productivity.

6. Provide four (4) suggestions that can assist with filling an identified gap in service
delivery.
S
 NS
1. Lack of understanding is one of the gap that will identified while delivering healthcare service plan to
patients. To reduce the gap, service provider will have to understand the requirement of service user
perfectly and then make plan accordingly.
2. Lack of coordination and communication is another gap identified at workplace, that impact on service
delivery procedure negatively. To reduce this gap effectively, workers have to build good network with
each other, they have to start communication and make short discussion based on job related activities,
that helps to make effective communication and coordination between all of them.
3. Lack of human resource to deliver health care services identified as main issues that company needs to
address. To reduce this gap, hiring of skilled and knowledgeable applicants is the best suggestion for
organization which they have to consider.
4. Lack of funds and high expenses on medicines and diagnostics is major gap that impact on service
delivery. Organization is highly recommended arranging charity events or functions to collect more
funds for providing the best care services to its patients.
7. List five (5) questions an organization could use to identify potential collaborative
partners.
S
 NS
1. Is the partner is interested in specific program or project?
2. What is our shared purpose or motive?
3. What resources and skills do each of us bring to table?
4. What accountability and roles do you use need to take on?
5. How many efforts do you commit to work?

8. Partnerships S
 NS
Partnerships will be sourced in
order to gain competitive
benefits.
NHS health and care act on partnership working, it helps to promote
integrated care where it can improve the service quality and allow
business to gain competitive edge.
Partnerships between person or
business will help to provide
access to additional resources.
For example, NHS improvement and NHS England relies on different
strategic partnerships at national as well as local level to deliver its
services, they collaborate with companies at both level that provide
access to add more resources which firm can used to improve results
and meet demand of mandate.
Partnership will develop for
several reason, better
utilization of abilities and
skills of professionals is one of
the them.
For example, when organization make partnership with other firms they
can use the knowledge of existing expert and professionals within
workplace.
a) Identify three (3) reasons for seeking partnerships.
 The first reason for seeking partnership is to gain competitive edge.
 It helps to access to additional resources.
 The third reason for making partnerships is to better use of skills of front line professionals.
b) Provide an example of why that partnership would be sourced.
Reasons - Partnerships Example
Partnerships will be sourced in
order to gain competitive
benefits.
NHS health and care act on partnership working, it helps to promote
integrated care where it can improve the service quality and allow
business to gain competitive edge.
Partnerships between person or
business will help to provide
For example, NHS improvement and NHS England relies on different
strategic partnerships at national as well as local level to deliver its

access to additional resources. services, they collaborate with companies at both level that provide
access to add more resources which firm can used to improve results
and meet demand of mandate.
Partnership will develop for
several reasons, better
utilization of abilities and
skills of professionals is one of
them.
For example, when organization make partnership with other firms they
can use the knowledge of existing expert and professionals within
workplace.
9. List five (5) ways inter/intra-sector links can be maintained. S
 NS
1. Mobile contact
2. Meetings
3. B using email network
4. Setting up chances for informal networks
5. Continuous scheduling for inter agency meetings.
10. Complete the table below. S
 NS
a) Identify six (6) services your organisation may link too.
b) Provide one (1) example to discuss the reason for linking.
Service Example
Psychological and counseling
therapies.
NHS provide free counseling and psychological therapies for
depressions.
Family and community Professionals of company provide information, guidance and advise on

support. any aspect of parenting.
Health screening It is health check up for adults in nation aged 40 to 75, designed to spot
early signs of kidney disease, stroke and heart disease.
Ambulance services NHS provide emergency access to health care, 10 ambulance trusts of
firm in England and other states have separate ambulance services.
Home care services When people receive care in their home the company covers cost of
health support patients need from health professionals, the actual cost
of personal care include within it like washing clothes. The main
reason for providing this service is to improving health of people who
are alone.
Health centers NHS provide its services in communities for example health centers, to
provide range of medical treatments and medicines that help to recover
patients health.

11. List four (4) things a worker could do, to ensure confidentiality is maintained in a
partnership.
S
 NS
1. Proper labeling
2. Insert non disclose provision in employment agreements
3. Monitor quality and consistency of resources
4.Check out the agreements related to partnership
12. Why it is necessary to identify, gather, store and maintain information on
appropriate services?
S
 NS
Maintaining, collecting and storing information on right services is very essential as it helps to deliver
quality services to patients according to their needs.
13. Provide five (5) examples of resources used with networking and linking. S
 NS
1. Information
2. Databases
3. Knowledge
4. Assets
5, Expertise and skills

14. What is involved in the management of resource systems? S
 NS
Pre-planning, allocating resources and scheduling assets to increase efficiency is included in
management of resource programs.

15. Identify ten (10) service areas an organization may need to meet client and
organisational goals.
S NS

1. The quality of services
2. Accommodation services
3. Understanding consumers needs relating to medical services.
4. Therapeutic services 
5, training programs 
6. Workforce planning.
7. Implementation of legislation
8. Recreation counseling 
9. Practices of service provider.
10. Leadership
16. At what times would a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be used? S
 NS
At the time of partnership MOU agreement is used between two or more parties in formal document. It
apply when two or more companies outlining obligations and rights of parties to agreement are into first
discussion.
17. Outline what type of information should be included in a MOU. S
 NS
MOU cater the guiding framework and principles, highly the management and objectives structure for
partnership. All parties included in listed by their address, legal name and business. The information
related to the accountability for different aspects of partnership. Meetings, governance, rationale,
duration of agreement, communication, conflict resolution are the kind of information included in MOU.

18. Explain the reasoning for providing information about your own service to other
organizations.
S
 NS
Reasons for providing information about services to other firms, is to build strong network and to
improve the practices or service quality of other companies.
19. Outline the information that should be included in discussions with other networks
as part of partnership building.
S NS

The topic of discussion, its reason and how many people are included in discussion with other networks.
Information about topic and strategies will utilized for achieving objectives will be discussed with other
networks as part of partnership building. Along with above things, more information will be shared at
meeting related to potential joint partnership or collaboration, such as benefits of increasing sales rather
than before after partnership with another agency around delivering services together.
You have made a new network contact. You have exchanged relevant information and believe that the
contact you have made will be useful for a particular client.
20. Discuss your approach to promote a positive image of your organisation to new
contacts.
S
 NS
Organization culture, management of company, expertise and concerns of employees with firm,
characteristics of business and promotional campaigns are the best approaches used to promote positive
image of NHS to new contacts. Word of mouth is one of the best approach use to promote a positive
image of company to new contact. Employees must appropriately dresses and groomed that also work in
context of above statement.

21. What options are available if the resources required are not available or when
required support and services are inadequate for the needs of clients?
S NS

Partners collaboration is the best options available when resources are not
available or when needed services are lacking for needs of people. It means that with
partners collaboration , firm can get services that are required to fulfill the needs of consumers, they can
take help from them. When health care service does not meet with patients needs, workers must focus
on it, they need to take right action and identify the reason behind it which is really very important.
Employees can improve their practices and change it as soon as possible in order to match with
consumers needs.
22. Identify five (5) client needs or resource shortage and provide a suitable referral
option.
S NS

CLINET NEEDS/RESOURCE SHORTAGE REFERRAL OPTION
Care at home Patients recommended to contact NHS health care
professionals.
Effective communication Clients are referral to make good interaction with
health care provider, Friends and people live nearby
them.
The best medical treatments Contact to NHS professionals. For example, Local
people take the best medical treatment and search
more about NHS by getting information through
NHS profile.
Medical information Suggested to make communicate to expertise
Self care needs Recommended discussing with service provider and
users.
23. Explain the importance for referrals to be followed up and evaluated. S
 NS
The referrals have to followed up because it help to gain the best health care treatments, it is very
essential for people how wants to receive good treatment in their life related to health issues. With the

help of evaluating referrals person will get all the information about services.

24. List ten (10) media or communication channels that can be used to liaise between
partners.
S
 NS
1. Online communication
2. Periodic print
3. Media relations materials
4. Legal documents
5 Annual reports
6 Board communiques
7. Conference
8. Written communication method
9. Broad cast media
10. Electronic communication channels
25. Outline the process a worker would follow to prepare for a presentation on
communicating issues, policies and practices of the organisation.
S
 NS
To prepare presentation based on above topics workers had to follow procedure properly, they have to
analyze the people facing issues, select the main topic of presentation and define the objective. Workers
have to prepare content relevant to work, introduction and at last conclusion.

26. What does an organisation representative need to know to participate in network
meetings?
S
 NS
Organization representative has to consider brainstorming icebreakers before participating in network
meetings, they should know the clear reason for participation in this event and gather information about
how many people are coming in network meetings. They need to know the agenda of meetings and areas
that are going to discuss in event.
27. Identify five (5) outcomes an organization would consider to be beneficial for an
ongoing partnership.
S
 NS
1. Ongoing partnership helps to save time and cost of business it helps to achieved valued relationships
lead to preferential services.
2. The second outcome company will consider to be beneficial for ongoing partnership is trusted
relationship.
3. Reduce risk as failure.
4. Ongoing partnership enhance performance and productivity.
5. Build strong trust and understanding by working together which means better services and solutions
being provided.
28. Identify five (5) reasons why an organization may make a decision not to continue S
 NS

with an existing partnership.
1. Liability of business partners for debts of company is unlimited.
2. Uncertainty of duration is another reason for which company do not continue with exiting partnership.
3. Lack of harmony.
4. Lack of people confidence.
5. Risks of additional liability
29. Provide five (5) examples of questions you could use to evaluate and measure the
effectiveness of network associations.
S
 NS
1. What are the particular outcomes and purpose expected from networking activities?
2. How does business and its consumers benefits from networking association and its activity?
3. What networking activities do people engage in outside of their job duties?
4. Which report procedure will be put in place for evaluating networking benefits as well as activity?
5. Does network association strengthen the relationship?

30. Complete research to find out about the parameters of Intellectual properties and
its impact on collaborative arrangements.
S
 NS
Patents, copyrights, trade secrets and trademarks are the parameters of intellectual properties, all these
parameters make positive impact on collaborative arrangements as it help to secure and prevent
intellectual properties from stolen by others (Kostoglotov and et.al., 2018). all above tools are used to
retain and protect IP from other companies or competitors as it help to secure knowledge and products
for longer.

References
Book and Journals
Boissevain, J. and Mitchell, J.C. eds., 2018. Network analysis: Studies in human interaction. Walter de
Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Czerkawski, B.C., 2016. Blending formal and informal learning networks for online learning. International
Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. 17(3). pp.138-156.
Kostoglotov, A and et.al., 2018. Analysis of Dynamic Errors in Estimating Parameters of Structurally
Uncertain Measurement Processes Based on Quasioptimal Intellectual Algorithms of Combined
Maximum Principle. In 2018 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Applications and
Manufacturing (ICIEAM) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
Gausebeck, D and et.al., 2018. Focused advertising across multiple communication channels. U.S. Patent
10.089,648.
Denhardt, R.B and et.al., 2018. Managing human behavior in public and nonprofit organizations. CQ Press.
Online
NHS Health Check. 2018. [Online]. Available through:<https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/>
What is the NHS? An introduction to the National Health Service. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health-services/nhs/a4489/what-is-the-nhs/>