Analysis of Partnership Working in Health and Social Care

The provided assignment is a detailed analysis of partnership working in health and social care. It involves examining various research literature to identify factors that promote or hinder joint and integrated working between health and social care services. The assignment aims to provide an understanding of how partnerships can be developed and maintained, ultimately leading to better outcomes for users and carers. It also explores the implications of partnership working in public health governance.

WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Philosophy of working in Partnership in Health and Social Care...................................1
1.2. Evaluation of Partnership Relationship...........................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1. Partnership Models across Health and Social Care.........................................................3
2.2. Current Legislation and Organisational Practices and policies for Partnerships............3
2.3. Affects on collaborative working due to differences in working practices and policies.4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and
organisations...........................................................................................................................5
3.2 Potential barriers to partnership........................................................................................7
3.3 Strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care services
................................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Working in partnership referred to as a procedure whereby, two or more companies used
to work in collaboration for conducting a specific operation. It helps such organisations to share
their views, resources and ideas to address specific issues (Glasby and Dickinson, 2014). Under
this present assignment, a case study has drawn where many agencies including National Health
Service (NHS) and Tameside Adult Safeguarding Partnership (TASP) work with each other to
write an overview report. Here, TASP includes a board of various agencies who provide safety to
vulnerable people. For understanding concept of working in partnership, various philosophies,
different models, current legislations for same in health and social case sector are discussed.
Furthermore, possible outcomes of partnership working for such organisations and barriers to
work in same are evaluated. In addition to this, some strategies are also devised for improving
such outcomes also.
TASK 1
1.1. Philosophy of working in Partnership in Health and Social Care
Health and Social Care is a concept which requires utmost attention given to people in
terms of providing effective facilities and attention to their wellbeing. Various industries in the
health and social care sector came forward to combine their efforts and give effective healthcare
to the people who need their services. Various institutions and organisations come together in
partnership which allows them to tackle various severe situations and implement new
programmes that could enhance the health and social care facilities given to the local public
(Mockford and et.al., 2011). For instance, Tameside Adults Safeguarding Partnership has various
organisations and agencies which provide support to local people and effectively manage to
provide their quality services to adults in the local area.
There are various philosophies which are associated with operating in partnership in
Health and Social Care. The most crucial is empowerment, organisations indulged in providing
healthcare must coordinate and cooperate in ways which enhances the capabilities of the other.
For instance, as per the case of Adult A, various organizations and agencies which were
associated with this individual could have worked together to make his situation better and
protect Adult A and his family from harassment.
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The next philosophy is dependency. It is crucial that organisations together in partnership
could interdepend for economic, financial and social support (Rigby and et.al., 2011). It is quite
imperative as sharing of resources could open the scope of giving better facilities and focus on
people who are vulnerable and have similar condition like that of Adult A and his family.
Another most prominent philosophy is Autonomy. This is because there is a belief by
most organisation that for partnership, self-governance is utmost important. It provides ease and
comfort to firms in performing routine activities effectively. For instance, TASP could
collaborate with any agency like Housing Association or for giving social and healthcare
services but have authority for decision making and finalising resource allocations. Such
philosophy would be better for each policy made by TASP.
1.2. Evaluation of Partnership Relationship
Within health and social care sector, there are various partnership levels. It is important
that partnership is well established as it is various different facilities and services are required by
individuals with same condition as that of Adult A. This is because such individuals and their
families are required to be given effective healthcare to ensure improvement in their health
conditions like learning disabilities and appropriate protection from gruesome acts of harassment
(Fotaki, 2011). TASP, while collaborating between various agencies could provide measures
which ensures proper care given to families like Adult A's. Moreover, as per the study, Adult
Safeguarding Team could have formulated strategies and could have worked in partnership with
other local organisations after Adult A's case was reported to them in 2007.
Another case where partnership of social and healthcare organisations could have
provided effected protection to Adult A's family. The person in question suffered from Ischaemic
Heart Disease and various other diseases which required an effective relationship between
various health and social care organisations (Gardiner, Gott and Ingleton, 2012). Having such
effective partnership could have saved a life and TASP must work with organisations having
financial capabilities and technological equipment like CCTV's to ensure that protection must be
given to people who are vulnerable.
Relationship in partnership must be fostering to allow organisations to give a range of
services to different individuals. It would allow them to collaborate in ways where these
organisations could share ample resources and implement the same for welfare of local people in
need. Thus, relationship in partnership must be contributing as well as complementing where
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health and social care organisations could work together and support each other to achieve their
objectives.
TASK 2
2.1. Partnership Models across Health and Social Care
There are various models in health and social care which could be applied to effectively
achieve better outcomes to handle situations like in the case scenario of Adult A. There are
various models as per Audit Commission UK which are mentioned below: Separate Business Model: This model is centralised upon two different organisations
that are functioning distinctively and yet, have a commit partnership staff (Glasby and
Dickinson, 2014). In this type of partnership, there is a minimal threat of domination as it
lays effective policies for the roles and responsibilities. Virtual Business Model: There is no legal status in this partnership and both the partners
have distinctive identities. It has its own name, logo and place as possession. One partner
is responsible for effectively recruiting and employing manpower and manage their
performances. Due to its distinctive identity, this kind of partnership is saved from
undergoing various legal complications. Colocation Model: Under this model, partnership is considered as an informal framework
which satisfies a common objective. In this type of partnership, however the resources
are same, each organisation operates separate employees (Glasby, 2017). There is one
limitation of this model, that dependence is required in this model in case of endangered
personnel loyalties.
 Steering Group Model: This is a formal sort of partnership with a formal agreement.
Under this model, associates of steering groups are entailed via influence which ensures
that objectives set by this partnership are achieved by accessible employees of the
partners. This partnership effectively hormonise the service delivery by these
organisations. However, this model is quite inappropriate in case a separate identity is
needed by the partners.
2.2. Current Legislation and Organisational Practices and policies for Partnerships
Legislation refer to the laws and guidelines that are set up by the government to
safeguard interests and ethical practices individually as well as nationally (Hunter and Perkins,
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2012). It is important for organisations as well as individuals to be aware about such legislations,
practices and policies for partnerships which could help in giving better health and social care to
people similar to Adult A. These legislation and organisational practices and policies are
discussed below: Equality Act, 2010: According to this act, each individual must be treated equally
regardless of their caste, creed, color, religion, etc. It is quite imperative to effectively
support and implement this act in health and social care where there is no discrimination
based on any such factor and effective healthcare is provided to each individual
effectively (Millar and Hall, 2013). TASP must apply this in partnerships and must
encourage equal behaviour within these organisations. Human Rights Act, 1998: This act sets up rights as well as freedoms for each and every
individual in the UK. Moreover, this act entitles the harsh measures which could be taken
by public organisations and the government in violation of this act. Thus, within
partnerships, TASP must utilise this act and provide information about the same to the
needy and individuals having similar cases than that of Adult A (Mockford and et.al.,
2011). This is because knowing about one's rights could give effective power to these
individuals to reach out to government organisations for help and achieve effective social
and healthcare.
 Disability Discrimination Act, 2005: This act promotes all the rights which are
possessed by disabled individuals. Adult A, his brother and various other individuals like
them have the right to be protected from any sort of discrimination regarding their
disabilities. Thus, within partnerships, social and healthcare associations must protect
these rights and carry out policies which ensures the same. It is very crucial in real time
so that individuals like in the case study could be protected and given utmost better health
and social care.
2.3. Affects on collaborative working due to differences in working practices and policies
Working practices and policies are generally designed under organisations to influence and
make proper decisions. But when companies work partnership then such policies impact either in
negative or positive manner on decision making procedures. Here, beneficial part of
collaboration among organisations entails through the way each associated company influence
by each other’s policies (Dickinson and O'Flynn, 2016). This would help in developing a unified
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policy for resolving an issue. Therefore, as per present scenario, to develop a report on Adult-A
case if agencies dealing under independent and statutory basis, had worked in collaboration.
Then they could resolve this case more effectively and develop strategies to provide safety to
vulnerable people and societies.
But to concern on another side, work in collaboration also impact negatively by arising
conflicts among these organisations (Rigby and et.al., 2011). It may create because each
organisation such as NHS, Community Safety Unit, Hate Incident Panel, Acute Foundation
Trust, Greater Manchester Police and more, has own policies to conduct and review such a
serious case study. Along with this, different organisational structure, corporate governance and
policies are also considered as main factors which arise conflicts among these companies.
Therefore, this would impact negatively on entire performances of them.
TASK 3
3.1 Possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and
organisations
As main aim behind working in partnership in health and social care- is to make better
decisions for resolving a specific issue. Therefore, it would prove beneficial as well as
drawbacks for organisations who work in collaboration on a certain project. With context to
present case study where a person Adult-A having speaking disabilities and was much bullied by
other persons, has found dead in its own house (Munn-Giddings and Winter, 2013). Therefore,
for resolving this case and get justice, family members of this vulnerable person have contacted
to several agencies. But such organisations worked in own manner to make investigation and
have found different-different evidences that claim for murder, not a normal death of that person.
So, such evidences have raised complexities for resolving this case by TASP. In this regard, if
they had worked in partnership then this provide various advantages for users, professionals and
organisations in following manner:-
USERS Pros Cons
Services  Working in alliances
may speed up the
facilities provided by
such organisations
 Level of
miscommunication and
misconception can be
raised.
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(Perkins and et.al.,
2010).
 Unified decisions can
be taken out to resolve
an issue.
 It arise conflicts
among companies due
to different policies.
Professionals  Roles and
responsibilities of each
professional would be
cleared and concise to
get effective outcomes.
 Skills and knowledge
level can be raised of
workers if they work in
collaboration with
employees of other
organisations.
 The main disadvantage
of this alliance is
different culture of
organisation which
impact on entire
working system
negatively (Cameron
and et.al., 2014).
 Mismanagement
related to funding
could be raised.
Organisations  It proves beneficial for
organisations in
sharing resources,
ideas and information
for resolving such a
serious case.
 It also provides
integrated services and
coherent approaches to
work on principle of
ethics for resolving an
issue.
 Communication could
be break down among
organisations which
mislead the whole
concept.
 Alliances among
companies could also
prove cost ineffective.
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3.2 Potential barriers to partnership
As it has evaluated that if organisations such as Community Safety Unit, Hate Incident
Panel, Acute Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Police and more, had worked in partnership
then chance of resolving mentioned case (Adult-A) could be resolved on time. But includes
various factors also that could arise barriers under partnership of such organisations (Petch, Cook
and Miller, 2013). It may also raise while sharing information and communication in
safeguarding as:-
Proficient boundaries: It includes principal limit whereby human services are
confronted while working in collaboration. As such organisations are mainly belonged to
statutory and independent, therefore, conflicts related to different policies may also arise. This is
also considered as another barrier which effect investigation of entire associated agencies, who
work on same case study of Adult A.
Lack of understanding of roles and responsibilities: It is one of the possible barrier
which might effect entire performance of workers, required to work in collaboration. As each
professional of associated organisation has specific roles and responsibilities therefore, in such
cases they also have different attitude and way of performing the same. This would arise lack of
communication among workers which may influence the services users to give desired quality of
work.
Absence of conversation: It refers to arise a noteworthy hindrance under working of
collaboration for safeguarding and protecting the welfare of vulnerable people, who display their
needs and difficulties similar to those presented by Adult A. Therefore, absence of proper
communication among statutory and organisations working on individual basis, who are now
worked in collaboration, may impact negatively on resulted outcomes (Marmot and et.al., 2012).
Poor conversation and sharing of information, misleads the desired outcomes and prompts to
poor result between administration and family members of Adult-A.
Legal formalities: It refers to main barrier in making arrangements among associated
organisations to work in collaboration, for preparing management reports and reviewing
mentioned case study including its evidence. It arises difficulties in reporting the Serious Case
Review through different-different governance routes.
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3.3 Strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care services
As it has analysed that to make alliances among agencies and corporations who work for
safeguarding to vulnerable and disable people, there are various barriers arises. Therefore, to
cope up with such barriers, there are various ways present that helps Tamside Adult
Safeguarding Partnership in making alliance between its several agencies (Building effective
partnership for sustainable development, 2019). It includes developing common understanding
across partners; adopting collective leadership instead of individual leadership; creating a
collaborative mindset as well as a key partnering skill set. TASP also needs to build effective and
strong relationship among organisations and should be output-focussed for resolving a case.
With such critical factors, they can develop strategies to reduce barriers which may arise due to
lack of communication and sharing of information among companies.
Individuals and professionals of TASP also need to utilize inventive as well as parallel
deduction with aim to develop new involvement and collaboration among organisations.
Through such type of parallel deduction, agencies like Greater Manchester Police, Community
Safety Unit, Acute Foundation Trust, Hate Incident Panel and other 11 agencies can help each
other to tackling the issues, which may arise due to conflicts (Gardiner, Gott and Ingleton, 2012).
Along with this, for alliances among these organisations, professionals working under health and
social care sectors, also need to analyse rationale for the same. This would help in making
effective decisions to distribute roles and responsibilities to each organisation, for providing
safeguard to vulnerable people. This would help in reducing chance of such an incident again
where an adult of age 18 found dead due to harassment activities.
CONCLUSION
From this mentioned report it has been summarised that working in partnership especially
in health and social care sector, is quite important. It states that for resolving issues related with
health, physical and mental disabilities, agencies dealing under such sector must work in
collaboration. It helps in adopting various key philosophies like empowerment of service users,
independence and interdependence, autonomy and more, for enhancing efficiencies of business.
Along with this, through this report where a case study based on Adult A, it has concluded that is
agencies like Greater Manchester Police, Housing Association, Hate Incident Panel, NHS and
more, had worked in partnership, then they could present a better overview on report for
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resolving this case. If such organisations had shared their views and information with each other,
then it might possible that family members of Adult A could get better justice.
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