Partnership Working in Healthcare

This assignment delves into the critical topic of partnership working within healthcare. It requires students to analyze various models of integrated care, understand the challenges associated with its implementation, and evaluate successful strategies for fostering collaboration between different healthcare providers. The focus is on understanding how effective partnerships contribute to improved patient outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system.

Working in Partnership

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1
TASK 1.............................................................................................................................1
1.1 Philosophy of working with partnership in health and social care..........................1
1.2 Determine partnership relationships in health and social care services.................3
TASK 2.............................................................................................................................4
2.1 Models of partnership working across health and social care................................4
2.2 Present legislation and organisational practices and policies................................5
2.3 Differences in working practices and policies affect collaborative working............6
TASK 3.............................................................................................................................7
3.1 Possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and
organisations................................................................................................................7
3.2 Potential barriers to partnership working in health and social care........................8
3.3 Strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care9
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................... 10
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................11
...................................................................................................................................... 12

INTRODUCTION
In the health and social care the partnership plays a necessary role. Partnership
refers to a process in which two and more than two business firms are working together
in order to providing the better and effective services to consumers. Health and social
care is that sector which provides the health care related services to people. In health
and social care, working in partnership refers to a process in which various firms
merged or introduced for providing the health care related services to people (Ball and
et. al., 2010). In this present business report mentions about the philosophy of the
working in the partnership in context to health and social care. There is also discuss
regarding the organisational practices & policies and also current legislation for the
working in partnership. There are many different methods which firms used for
developing the better and effective relations mentions under this business report.
TASK 1
1.1 Philosophy of working with partnership in health and social care
Philosophy is considered as guidance principle for all organisations who are into
working as the partnership that is a philosophy related to working in partnership guide
the health and social care organisation to work in perfect manner by which the goals
shall be achieved. Some of the philosophy to be adapted in partnership are:-
Empowerment- In this kind of philosophy, people related to service users are
empowered for managing their own condition. For an example it has been observed in
most of the health and social care department that empowerment of disabled children is
very much important so that they will feel confident and capable for supporting
themselves.
Respect- respect is very much important in every field. If people with complex
condition or disabilities are not treated in respectful manner then it will be counted a bad
remark on the part of health and social care organisation (Barlow and et. al., 2010).
Independence- according to this philosophy in health and social care
department, shall be provided enough support is provided to the services users.
Support shall in the manner that individual needs and capabilities are enhanced. When
independence has been inculcate in health and social care then amount of
1

improvements are introduced which will enhance the skills and confidence of service
user.
Power sharing- Alliance health care is one of the best example of power sharing
in the health and social care. The work in Alliance health group is divided among
various department so that there shall be proper allocation of work. This approach focus
on the distribution of work as well as power among various department so that
responsibilities shall be shared as well as goal shall be achieved on time.
Patient Autonomy- it is the duty of health and care department to provide all the
necessary information about the treatment which is provided to them (Brisset, Leanza
and Laforest, 2013). It will help in educating the patient. Such approach is being used
by the Alliance health care department by which they are able to educate health care
professional and nurses by providing necessary information to service user.
The term partnership is when more than one partners are included in the firm or
the business organisation to carry out the activities of the firm is known as partnership.
In partnership, the work shall be equally managed by partners that is whatever the
activities are carried out in the business organisation then such activities are equally
divided among the parters and they shall look for their particular work.
The current example of working in partnership is better explained in context to
health and social care. Earlier, the facility of health and social care is provided by care
home. These are basically small institution which will provide accommodation to the
people who are unable to get health and social care from any other organisation. The
main reason behind the set up care home institution is that there are number of people
who are unable to take care of themselves and are unable to get assisted on health and
social care. There are many kinds of care home of which some of them are residential,
private or voluntary. But with the time care homes like Groveland Park were not able to
provide good quality of health and and social care (Campbell-Hall and et. al., 2010).
At the interpersonal and organisational level of the organisation they have to
maintain the partnership so that they can do proper care. At the interpersonal level, the
category of younger age group feel isolated and facing difficulty in fulfilling the desires.
The interpersonal group tends to operate the relationship with the different level of
groups so that they can convey their desires effectively and efficiently. At the
2

organisational level, the employees have to maintain their behaviour so that they can
provide proper care. Along with this those employees who are facing the issues the
manager of the business entity have to resolve the issues and attain the maximum
benefits. To enhance the working of such organisation, the concept to partnership
began. Now there are many partners who are associated with health and social care
organisation. There were no partners connected to care homes which is why several
negative factor of care homes started identifying and with the time partnership started to
grow in organisation.
 Increase a superior quality peer-review in order to boost the clients to utilise the
fund for health project
 They have to do research for funding so that they can find a way which assist in
increasing the health care to do re-invention as well as competition among
different organization those who are providing the services for the improvements
of health (Currie and Lockett, 2011).
 While putting in records the result of DHS and NHS in order for health councils to
review in the necessity of maintaining a better approach to the formal strategy
used for improving health and social care organizations.
1.2 Determine partnership relationships in health and social care services
When the business related activities and also operations are undertaken
partnership then it gives the more advantages to the service users. Its main benefit is
that in this end users get number of services from a single firm. Generally old persons
suffer from many health related diseases and under this the partnership of various
business firms enhance the consumers convenience level and also save their time.
For an example- Merger of the mental as well as medical hospital care homes
will save more time in providing the variety of health services to ill or diseases people at
one place.
At the time of implementing plan, complexities or difficulties can be arise. When
the staff members of two companies will be combine for doing same activities then in
this case complexities will be arise. So, in context to this there will be the need of wide
range of collaboration and also administration between the employees management.
3

There is another barrier in working in partnership and that is cultural issues. In
order to this, the culture refers to the objectives and aims of two or more than two
participants (Ellis, 2011).
For an example- Local authorities as well as acute sector both have developed a
partnership known as the primary care trust in order to giving the better care to the
users. In this, the focus of local authorities on social outcomes of partnership and on the
other hand the focus of acute sector is on short term health related outcomes.
In an organisation, effective or clear communication is necessary for enhancing
the effectiveness or efficiency of the business activities or quality of operations. It is
necessary for the top management to provide some training to staff members regarding
solving problems. In the sector of health and social care, it is important for company to
maintain proper quality of services (Fotaki, 2011). It can only be achieved in case of
removing all barriers. Then from this employees can work in an effective manner and
provide better services to service users.
Under the given case study, there is discussion about the number of
partnerships. It is important for all firms to handle all problems and maintain the
workplace better. It will be helpful in better take care of children.
TASK 2
2.1 Models of partnership working across health and social care
There are many different models of the partnership in the health and social care,
the style of each model is different from the each other. There are four models are
included under this and these are unified, coordinated, coalition and hybrid and these all
explains structure of company. The four kinds of partnership models are give below as
above:
Unified model of partnership- It means in two or more than two people or firms
make a one institution. In this model, in structure of management involves staffing,
training and management of staff members. For these kinds of activities there is no
separate structure. Its main aim is to distribute integrated services to those people who
are needy (Gardiner, Gott and Ingleton, 2012). Its major advantages are:
 Under this all the heath and social care activities are involved.
4

 It only follows single strategic approach.
 For all service delivery there is only a single system.
Coordinated model- This model integrates the medical with the long term
support, demonstrates the positive results and also albeit to the different degrees
concerned to the price and quality. It is applied in the working partnership and it is
helpful in giving the health acre related services at minimum cost for customers with the
many social and health acre requirements.
Coalition model- It is very effective model of partnership. In this the partnership
is for the particular purpose or time period and after achieving the objectives,
partnership ends. In this type of partnership, the duties of partners or the professional
in health and social care is provided for the very short period of time and they are
entitled to perform it during that time only.
Hybrid model- It is a mixture of three models unifies, coordinate and coalition.
This model is helpful in combining the advantages from the various models at the time
of leaving some negative aspects. In the health and social care the hybrid model enable
the scaling prospects of services and also minimize all complexities (Glasby and
Dickinson, 2014).
These all models are very effective to give the better quality health and social
services. Working with the partnerships helpful in brings the firms together various
disciples like government bodies, regulatory parties and financial.
2.2 Present legislation and organisational practices and policies
In the health and social, the legislation set some rules and regulation which are
formulated through the government for the purpose of protect the patients and staff
members who belong to health care organisation. There are some current legislations
are given below:
Mental capacity act 2005- Its aim is to empower those persons which are not
able to take their own decisions for improve their standard of life. On the basis of this
act, every person has the tight for taking their own decisions. There are some
professional agencies like local authorities, family members, mental health services etc.
need to evaluate the mental capability of person before making any decisions of another
party that can be impact on the person life.
5

Data Protection act 1985 – According to this act, it is necessary for an
organisation to control personal information (Glasby, 2017). There is a need to the
organisations or health acres to protect the information of staff members as well as
patients.
Equality act 2010– The primary function of this act is to codify complicated and
numerous array of acts and regulations which form on the basis of anti discrimination
law. In case of disability, employers and service providers are under a duty to make
some reasonable adjustments at workplace to overcome barriers experienced by
disabled people.
Disability and Discriminating act, 2005- This act works to protect persons with
any kind of disabilities in which partially sight and also blind people. It helps in promote
the people rights with the disabilities and assure that these people do not suffer from
any discrimination due to ability.
It is necessary for firm to apply all acts at work place and after this regularly
review them with the various policies which are developed through government for the
health and social care. These all will be helpful in protecting the working environment or
people from any kind of issues and problems.
2.3 Differences in working practices and policies affect collaborative working
The policies refers to the course of actions which are formulated through
government or organisations in order to evaluate and neckline the decision making
(Golding, 2010). Collaborative is kind of working in which all he member collaborate
together to work for the various health and social care organisation. In the health and
social care, there are various kinds of differences like for an instance policies,
organisation type and practices of company. These all differences between firm can be
affect the partnership work and it can also be affect the collaboration of two firms inside
partnership. These two factors are given below as above:
Type of organisation- It is that kind of factor which can be barrier for the
collaborative working.
For an example- There are various kinds of health care business firms like for an
instance specialist organisations, third sector, providers and government organisations.
An enterprise which is managed or controlled through government and on the other
6

hand an other enterprise which is run or controlled through private organisations are
varied from each other. These both enterprises have the various schemes of findings.
The another difference is software package which both firm use different. Because of
this reason, these two firms can not collaborate their work with the each other.
Policies and Practices- These can also be discouraging collaborative
partnership. The policies and practices of two different organisations will be different so
it develops the impact on the collaboration work (Hutchison and et. al., 2011). Because
these both firms do not understand the policies of each other easily.
Other than these there are some other factors which can impact on the working
in partnership like the different firms used the various technology which can develop the
problems for staff members. There are various number of components which affect on
the collective working of business operations. These all factors can be removed through
using the common process or ways used by the different organisations for enhancing
collaboration in an effective manner.
TASK 3
3.1 Possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and
organisations
The outcomes or results of working in the partnership can be advantage,
weakness, capabilities or it can be the barriers for customers, organisations and
professionals. It is helpful in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the business
operations and activities. Partnership is a collaboration of the various entities which are
working together with some or more than on e objectives (Jones and Barry, 2011). In
the health and social care there is a more involvement of parties like education system,
government and private medical care, local medical facilities etc. The partnership helps
in sharing the resources and information which helps an organisation to minimize the
operational cost. There are various kinds of partnership working mentions below as
above:
Service users- Under the partnership working, service users able to receive the
large range of the effective services from enterprise. Working in partnership to provide
health and social care related services is become a modern theme in modern time. In
7

the the service users can take the services at single place which help in minimising their
travelling time and cost. The merger of the health and social care central with the metal
acre will helps in saving time of users.
Positive outcomes:
 It gives more comprehensive, consistent care and co-ordinated services.
 It enables an access to a range of education, employment opportunities
and training.
Negative impact:
 Service users referred to tokenism as well as failure of involvement
initiatives so that from this change can be impacted ( Kohl and et. al.,
2012).
Professionals- In this involves those persons which are enough qualified,
educated, experienced to develop a profession on the basis of their education. In the
professionals doctors are included and they provide the effective and better health care
related services to the people.
Positives outcomes:
 Developing the employees skills and fulfil needs of people.
 It is helpful in developing the good understanding with the another
partners and develop many personal skills. From this the professionals
can deals with patients or consumers in a proper way.
Negative outcome:
 Determine local programme so from this the professionals can produce
poor and also diverse nature of multidisciplinary teams and partnership for
make them difficult.
Organisation- It is necessary that in an enterprise the communication and
coordination among the staff members and service users should be proper (Lowes and
Hulatt, 2013). In an organisation, proper management is necessary. Management
should focus on improving the quality of operations. In context to organisation, the
working with partnership is very effective because in this two or more than two business
firms are working together.
Positive outcomes:
8

 There is no clear dimension among partners responsibilities.
 It recognises expertise areas and strengths of all partners involved in
partnership.
Negative impacts:
 Dispute can arise between partners and from this they can not attain the
goals and objectives.
3.2 Potential barriers to partnership working in health and social care
When two or more than two organisations and people will start to work together
then there will be the different barriers arise. It is necessary for the manager to both
business organisations to determine these all barriers and also work on eliminating
them for increasing the quality of business activities and operations (Mockford and et.
al., 2011). In the health and social care, there are many barriers in the partnership with
working. There are some barriers in partnership working given below as above:
Various policies- The policies and rules of every organisations are not same.
They are varied from the each other. When two firms will work together then it will be
difficult for employees to follow the policies of both the firms. From this the confusion will
be created in the mind of employees about which company policy they should follow.
From this both firm will not achieve its organisational objectives in a specific period of
time. So, it is the big barrier in the partnership working.
Communication- It plays a necessary role in the business. It is important that
the communication between the staff members of both firms should be proper and
transparent. From this the mutual understanding will be generated (Campbell-Hall and
et. al., 2010). If in case the communication will not be good then it will develop the
conflict and it will impact on the productivity of firms.
Attitudes and values- These are some necessary aspects that guide
partnership working. However, for effective partnership, a positive attitude is important.
If the attitude of staff members will not proper then it may develop conflicts and
differences thus leading to hampered partnership. Furthermore, difference in values of
the staff of the two organization may also lead to various issues.
9

3.3 Strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care
It is necessary for an organisation to remove all barriers or problems by
developing the effective strategies. In order to improve the business outcomes, there
are some strategies are given below which are developed by firm:
Standard procedure or methods- Firm can implement some standard process
as well as methods for removing any confusion in customer's mind about which process
they should follow. With the help of the the quality of services will be properly
maintained and the outcomes will be effective.
Better internal communication- It is necessary that the communication
between internal staff members should be better and clear. They should know regarding
their responsibilities and also duties (Currie and Lockett, 2011). Effectiveness of
communication enhances when people are compatible and do not have clashes or ego
problems.
Training and development- For better outcomes, it is necessary that in the
health and social care manager should provide the training to employees for enhancing
their skills. From this they will provide the better services to customers or services and
deal with patients in an effective manner.
Effective Health and social care policies- Firm should formulated the effective
or beneficial policies for welfare of patients and vulnerable groups. In context to this, it is
the duty of firm to regularly monitor these policies in an effective manner.
Along with these all strategies, there are some other strategies which firm can be
used for enhancing the efficiency of the outcomes in a positive manner like problem
solving, setting targets properly, conflicting policies and apply beneficial acts at
workplace etc. It is important for the partnership organisations to include in the health
and social care by using some of the appropriate and effective strategies for the better
outcomes (Fotaki, 2011). In context to this, it is the responsibility of manager to regularly
upgrade all the strategies and time to time make some changes in these strategies for
better outcomes.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above given report that in the partnership two or
more than the two organisations work together in the social and heath care for giving
10

the good quality of services to consumers. In this given report studied about the various
partnership models in the health and social care. Under this also studied about some
strategies in order to improve results for working with partnership the the sector of
health and social care.
11

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Ball, R. and et. al., 2010. The evaluation of partnership working in the delivery of health
and social care. Public Policy and Administration. 25(4). pp.387-407.
Barlow, J. and et. al., 2010. Health‐led interventions in the early years to enhance
infant and maternal mental health: A review of reviews. Child and Adolescent
Mental Health. 15(4). pp.178-185.
Brisset, C., Leanza, Y. and Laforest, K., 2013. Working with interpreters in health care:
A systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative studies. Patient
Education and Counseling. 91(2). pp.131-140.
Campbell-Hall, V. and et. al., 2010. Collaboration between traditional practitioners and
primary health care staff in South Africa: developing a workable partnership for
community mental health services. Transcultural psychiatry. 47(4). pp.610-628.
Currie, G. and Lockett, A., 2011. Distributing leadership in health and social care:
concertive, conjoint or collective?.International Journal of Management
Reviews. 13(3). pp.286-300.
Ellis, K., 2011. ‘Street‐level Bureaucracy’Revisited: The Changing Face of Frontline
Discretion in Adult Social Care in England. Social Policy &
Administration. 45(3). pp.221-244.
Fotaki, M., 2011. Towards developing new partnerships in public services: users as
consumers, citizens and/or co‐producers in health and social care in England
and Sweden.Public Administration. 89(3). pp.933-955.
Gardiner, C., Gott, M. and Ingleton, C., 2012. Factors supporting good partnership
working between generalist and specialist palliative care services: a systematic
review. Br J Gen Pract. 62(598). pp.e353-e362.
Glasby, J. and Dickinson, H., 2014. Partnership working in health and social care: what
is integrated care and how can we deliver it?. Policy Press.
Glasby, J., 2017. Understanding health and social care. Policy Press.
Golding, K.S., 2010. Multi-agency and specialist working to meet the mental health
needs of children in care and adopted.Clinical Child Psychology and
Psychiatry. 15(4). pp.573-587.
Hutchison, B. and et. al., 2011. Primary health care in Canada: systems in motion. The
Milbank Quarterly. 89(2). pp.256-288.
Jones, J. and Barry, M.M., 2011. Exploring the relationship between synergy and
partnership functioning factors in health promotion partnerships. Health
Promotion International. 26(4). pp.408-420.
Kohl, H.W. And et. al., 2012. The pandemic of physical inactivity: global action for public
health. The Lancet.380(9838). pp.294-305.
Lowes, L. and Hulatt, I. eds., 2013. Involving service users in health and social care
research. Routledge.
Mockford, C. and et. al., 2011. The impact of patient and public involvement on UK
NHS health care: a systematic review. International Journal for Quality in Health
Care. 24(1). pp.28-38.
12

Reutter, L. and Kushner, K.E., 2010. ‘Health equity through action on the social
determinants of health’: taking up the challenge in nursing. Nursing
inquiry. 17(3). pp.269-280.
Timmins, N. and Ham, C., 2013. The quest for integrated health and social care: a case
study in Canterbury, New Zealand. Kings Fund.
Zimmerman, C., Hossain, M. and Watts, C., 2011. Human trafficking and health: A
conceptual model to inform policy, intervention and research. Social science &
medicine. 73(2). pp.327-335.
Online
Challenging Behaviour Foundation. 2008 – 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/supporting-you/for-professionals/
working-in-partnership.html>.
Changes. 2016. [Online]. Available through: <http://changesuk.net/themes/partnership-
working/>.
National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/do-it/working-partnership>.
13