The Philosophy Of Working In Partnership In Health And Social Care

WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Philosophy of working in partnership in health & social care..............................................3
1.2 Effectiveness of partnership relationships within health & social care services...................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Models of partnership working across health & social care sector.......................................6
2.2 Present legislation and organisational policies & practices for partnership.........................7
2.3 Impacts of different working practices in collaborative working.........................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Possible outcomes of working in partnership.......................................................................8
3.2 Potential barriers to partnership working..............................................................................9
3.3 Strategies for improving outcomes of working in partnership..............................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Working in partnership refers to perform in a team by care professionals with effective
cooperation to make an individual well being. It consists the criteria of working with efficient
coordination between medical practitioners associated with same case of patients by
communication required information to provide correct treatment for their welfare. However, it
includes to perform different tasks separately by making effective communication through focus
on same goal of patient's health (Robertson, 2016). The present report is based on case of study
of an infant Alex and reasons behind his death. This assignment will focus on philosophy of
working in partnership and relations within health & social care services. It will also include
models of partnership working, current legislations & policies and impact of different practices
on collaborative working. The possible outcomes of working in partnership, potential barriers
and strategies to improve outcomes of partnership working in health & social care services is
described below.
TASK 1
1.1 Philosophy of working in partnership in health & social care
Working in partnership is an important aspect in health & social care which helps to
make an individual well being. It has been analysed that several professionals are always
associated and perform in a team like nurse, pathologist and doctor to make patients disease free.
However, partnership can be considered as a shared commitment where all the members has
right and an obligation to participate in particular tasks. They will get affected equally by
advantages and disadvantages take place from working in partnership (Sullivan and Skelcher,
2017). In context of Alex, it is necessary for his parents and care practitioners perform together
for saving his life but unfortunately lack of sincerity is responsible for death this infant named
Alex. There are number of philosophies of working in partnerships which should be considered
by professionals while providing care & support to an individual for their well being. Thus, some
of philosophies are explained further –
Power sharing or empowerment – This can be described as delegation of some
authority and responsibilities to patients along with involving them in decision making process.
It is necessary to involve patient and their family members to determine their choice of gaining
medication because it improves comfort level of an individual which is favourable to attain better

outcomes treatment. Meanwhile, involvement of sick person or their relatives is beneficial to
know about problem of allergies and phobias in order to make more accurate decision of
providing further treatment for their welfare. In context of Alex, it is necessary to involve his
parents and other relatives to take care of him and save his life.
Respect – The factor of respect is an important aspect which is required to be maintained
by care professionals while providing treatment to them. It is essential for medical staff to
behave properly with a sick person as well as their family members by communicating (Curran
and Millard, 2016). Meanwhile, it is significant to pay resect to them and make mutual
understanding which helps to make them feel relaxed and focus on medications which should be
received on time. In case of Alex, respect of parents and other relatives should be maintained
through involving them in care plan for well being of infant.
Independence – This can be explained as to make patient much capable to make their
decisions on their own. It consists to support sick people to conduct few of activities by
themselves in order to remain disease free. However, it is important for care practitioners to
make people learn to take their medications on time and conduct some of physical activities to
maintain their stable condition of health. The given case scenario about Alex requires that
professionals make his parents much able to take care of him in proper way which may facilitate
to save his life.
Making informed choice & consultation – The decision making can be considered as
an important aspect for providing appropriate care and treatment for well being of sick people. It
includes the criterion to be followed by medical practitioners at the time of making decision
making of medication that is to provide every information about treatment practices to be
carrying out further. Meanwhile, it is necessary for professionals to make patient and their family
members aware specific medications in proper manner (Schmachtel, 2016).
1.2 Effectiveness of partnership relationships within health & social care services
The effectiveness of partnership relationships is helpful achieving better patient outcomes
through performing together in proper way. It is essential to establish an appropriate
understanding with partners with the help of conducting effective communication as it will
facilitate to gain better outputs of care plan. Meanwhile, better relationship between partners are
helpful to make appropriate decision and establish efficient coordination which results into

favourable condition of a sick individual. In case of Alex, effective relationships among his
parents and care professionals can save his life maintain his accurate health situation.
Relationship with service user – This consist to make healthy relationship with patient
and make them feel comfortable which is favourable to improve their health condition in proper
way. It consists the age and situation of particular patients according to which appropriate
conversation way should be used by professionals for wellness of them. However, it is
significantly to make a person stable and comfortable which is favourable to conduct clinical
practices in order to make patients healthy (Capaldo, Izurieta and Sundaram, 2016). According to
case of Alex, it is necessary for general practitioners to establish effective relation with that
infant and provide him proper care which may save his life.
Relationship with colleagues – The relationship between staff members of an
organisation is required to much strong so that they can conduct overall operational activities to
achieve same goal of business. Similarly, it is necessary for care practitioners to focus on their
own relations with colleagues because their conflict may results into mistakes in decision making
which can create extreme levelled complications for particular patient. However, it is important
or medical professionals such as nursing staff, doctors, psychologist, specialist, pathologist and
anaesthetist to perform with mutual understanding to provide treatment for an individual to make
them well being. As per case study of Alex, lack of ineffective relation among care practitioners
may responsible for death of him.
Relations with other organisations – This can be described as relations between
different health care organisations which are favourable to refer patients in critical situation
when specific required service is not available. It is necessary to management of care
organisations to establish healthy communication and mutual understand with other hospitals so
that they can refer their sick people due to contingency of unavailability of medical facilities
(Bryson, 2016). At the other hand, it is also essential for health care institutions to remain in
contact with different charities related to infants, young people and old age individuals to refer
patients there when required. In case of Alex, care practitioners can refer him to specific infant
care charity who will take care of him which may suitable to save his life.

TASK 2
2.1 Models of partnership working across health & social care sector
There are different types of models which can be used while working in partnership in
order to make an individual well being. It includes unified, coordinates, coalition and hybrid
model from which more suitable one should be selected by clinical professionals to perform
together for wellness of single person. However, it is necessary put efforts to analysing overall
situation and goal of tasks according to health problem of specific patient and then choose more
favourable model to perform in partnership (Prosser, 2018). Moreover, it is essential to work
effectively while working in partnership of collaborate overall resources and expertise efforts in
respect of making an individual perfectly well being. As per case scenario of Alex, if suitable
model of partnership has been applied then definitely his life can be saved.
Unified model – This can be described as to set up single system of working through
which every task should be complete to gain better outcomes. It involves to focus on same
policies and techniques in different situations in order to make an individuals healthy.
Meanwhile, utilisation of single system for performing daily clinical activities is suitable for staff
members because it will not create confusions and facilitate to make an immediate decision
quickly in emergency circumstances. Moreover, it will provide support to take action quickly
which helps to reduce chance on occurring complications for particular patient. According to
case of Alex, care professionals can use unified model while working partnership with his
parents in order to save his life.
Coordinated model – The coordinated care model consist the criteria of working with
proper coordination in respect of providing appropriate treatment for patients. It involves that
primary care providers are supported by overall network of nursing staff, specialists, care
managers, diagnostic team members and other professionals for supporting sick people to remain
healthy (Fuschi, 2016). Meanwhile, it consist number of care areas such as Disease & care
management, speciality care, hospital & post acute care, house calls, Health coaches & care
navigators and urgent care. According to scenario given related to Alex, coordinated model of
partnership working can be used for putting efforts the his life can be saved.
Hybrid model – This can be described as to establish a hybrid model by selecting
effective practices from different two models according top demand of particular situation. It is
necessary understand health condition of an individual and then prefer to make hybrid model by

selecting strategies from different procedures for welfare of the person. As per present case
study, hybrid model can be used to make Parents of Alex realise to take care of their infant
properly or take other required actions which can save his life.
2.2 Present legislation and organisational policies & practices for partnership
The legal rules and regulations plays an important role in health care organisations
because they facilitate to directs efforts of medical professionals incorrect directions. It consist
various legislations and Acts which are mandatory to be followed by care practitioners as it is
favourable to avoid wrong action and unethical activities which is suitable for well being of
citizens of the country (Hoppey, 2016). According to given case scenario of Alex, medical
practitioners should follow legislations in proper way because it may helps to save his life.
Firstly, Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act is helpful to maintain equality while
providing care services to people belongs to communities that are avoided from society.
Secondly, Health and Social care Act 2012 includes the criteria to restructure the health care
organisations in context of boosting up procedures and policies for improving patient outcomes.
Thirdly, Equality Act 2010 provide guidelines to care practitioners to provide equal medical
facilities and medications in order to make sure about wellness of sick person. However, Care
Standard Act 2000 encourage general practitioners to consider overall care standards at the time
of providing better facilities. In addition to this, Mental Health Act 1983 amended 2007 render
instructions to staff and psychologists about their power to deal with mental patients and put
limited strictness with such people in order to provide better medications for their wellness.
Moreover, it also involves Children Act 1989 amended 2004, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and
Data Protection Act 1998 in terms of making an individual healthy (Austin, Thompson and
Garrod, 2016).
There are different types of policies and procedures are establish in health care
organisations for carrying out the same to achieve well being of a patient. It consist different
clinical processes like diagnosing, medication, surgical activities and many more which can be
improved by adopting effective technological equipments or software. At the other hand, policies
of hospitals maintain privacy of data, provide equal opportunity to every person and conduct
training programs for employees to increase their abilities as well as knowledge level.

2.3 Impacts of different working practices in collaborative working
The different working practices impacts overall tasks at the time when every team
members focus on different policies, procedure and time schedules which is not favourable to
gain desired outputs of efforts. It is necessary for employees working in a team that they should
focus on same schedule of performing and consider similar procedures in order to gain better
results of specific task. However, it has been analysed that lack of collaborative working between
general practitioners and patients of Alex is responsible for death of that infant (McMaster and
et. al., 2016).
There are various aspects whose differentiation impacts negatively on outcomes of
particular tasks and also affects the patients outcomes. It includes different working time,
policies & procedure, governing or professional bodies, approaches to work, trainings,
communication methods, roles & responsibility and information sharing protocol. However, it is
necessary for care practitioners to focus on these factors and maintain similarity among them
while perform in partnership to gain desired patients outcomes.
TASK 3
3.1 Possible outcomes of working in partnership
Working in partnership has positive outcomes if resources and expertise efforts will
collaborate in appropriate manner. It is necessary to manage overall tasks and activities by
appropriate cooperation as well as coordination which facilitate to fulfil set objectives
respectively. In contrary to this, inaccurate cooperation among partnership has certain negative
impacts which has been analysed in case of Alex.
Users of services – This includes all the possible outputs which has been achieved by
patients with the help of working in partnerships. It involves several positive outcomes such as
improved facilities, empowerment, autonomy and informed decision making which provide
support tin gain better outcomes of overall treatment procedure (Trevillion, 2018).
Professionals – The professionals can gain certain benefits by performing in team
because it is helpful to reduce burden of them and they can achieve better outcomes through
carrying out clinical practices. It includes learning criteria of employees which they can gain
from each other that makes them capable to perform with different people and differentiated
situations in efficient manner.

Organisations – Partnership working is very significant at organisational level in various
situations when specific type of medical service in not available or specialists are on leave then
patients can be refer to partner hospitals for their wellness. Moreover, it is also favourable when
patients has a complicated condition then they can refer to other care institution for further
facilities to make them healthy.
3.2 Potential barriers to partnership working
Partnership working can be considered as an effective approach to gain desired outcomes
but it is important to manage overall activities through proper communication and coordination
among team members. As per given case of Alex, several potential barriers are responsible for
improper care of Alex which leads to death.
Lack of communication – The improper communication can be known as potential
barriers effective conversation is base of cooperation among partnerships which is important for
gaining better patient outcomes. It is very important to conduct effective communication to
complete overall task in terms of making patient healthy.
Lack of resources – The limited resources is responsible for creating problem for
conduct clinical practices because lack of sufficient resources generate stress among team which
impacts negatively on their performance. It is also responsible developing conflicts among
employees for using resources to complete their individual tasks (Cohen, 2017).
Lack of clear roles and responsibilities – The lack of clarity about individual roles and
responsibilities can create conflicts among partners and completion of tasks will not take place
on time. It will also responsible for mistakes and errors while conducting clinical procedures
which is not favourable for sick individuals.
Lack of information sharing – The sharing of information is mandatory while working
in partnership otherwise lack of data sharing may results into wrong attempt of activities. It will
facilitate to generate complicated situation of patients.
3.3 Strategies for improving outcomes of working in partnership
Working in partnership is itself an effective approach for increasing patient outcomes by
conducting clinical practices in more effective as well as efficient manner. It is necessary is
establish appropriate strategies for improving outcomes of working in partnerships in which
some of them are described below.

Initially, Training of staff is very important then healthcare organisations are required to
organise effective learning sessions to improve their capabilities for improving performance in
partnerships. It will helps them to work in a team which facilitate to conduct needed clinical
procedures properly for wellness of patient. However, Appointing a lead professional who has
an ability to provide proper guidelines to employees for working in partnership with appropriate
cooperation. In addition to this, Effective communication is mandatory at the time while
performing in a team through establishing appropriate cooperation as well as coordination. It is
very essential to maintain proper conversation to provide accurate treatment for well being of
patient. At last but not the least, it has been analysed that clear roles and responsibilities are
also important so that employees will focus on their individual tasks for completing in in proper
way.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that working in partnership can be
described as to perform in a team by care professionals with effective cooperation to make
patient healthy. It includes effective philosophies like Power sharing or empowerment, Respect,
Independence and Making informed choice & consultation in partnership working. However,
effectiveness of work in partnership is helpful for service user, professionals and organisations to
gain better outcomes. In addition to this, it involves legislation including Health and Social care
Act 2012, Equality Act 2010, Standard Act 2000 & Children Act 1989 amended 2004 and
procedures like diagnosing, medication, surgical activities etc. Moreover, it consist several
barriers for partnership working such as Lack of communication, resources, clear roles &
responsibilities and Lack of information sharing.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Robertson, J., 2016. Coaching leadership: Building educational leadership capacity through
partnership. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. PO Box 3237, Wellington
6140 New Zealand.
Sullivan, H. and Skelcher, C., 2017. Working across boundaries: collaboration in public
services. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Curran, R. and Millard, L., 2016. A partnership approach to developing student capacity to
engage and staff capacity to be engaging: Opportunities for academic
developers. International Journal for Academic Development, 21(1), pp.67-78.
Schmachtel, S., 2016. Local partnerships as ‘rationalized myths’: a critical examination of the
micro-discourse in educational partnership working. Critical Policy Studies, 10(4),
pp.448-467.
Capaldo, J., Izurieta, A. and Sundaram, J.K., 2016. Trading down: unemployment, inequality and
other risks of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (No. 16-01). GDAE, Tufts
University.
Bryson, C., 2016. Engagement through partnership: Students as partners in learning and teaching
in higher education.
Prosser, C.D., 2018. Geoconservation, quarrying and mining: opportunities and challenges
illustrated through working in partnership with the mineral extraction industry in
England. Geoheritage, 10(2), pp.259-270.
Fuschi, D.L., 2016. A network based business partnership model for SMEs
management. Entrepreneurship and sustainability issues, 3(3), pp.282-289.
Hoppey, D., 2016. Developing educators for inclusive classrooms through a rural school-
university partnership. Rural special education quarterly, 35(1), pp.13-22.
Austin, R., Thompson, N. and Garrod, G., 2016. Understanding the factors underlying
partnership working: A case study of Northumberland National Park, England. Land
Use Policy, 50, pp.115-124.
McMaster, T. and et. al., 2016. Facilitating technology transfer through partnership. Springer.
Trevillion, S., 2018. Networking and community partnership. Routledge.
Cohen, E., 2017. CSR for HR: A necessary partnership for advancing responsible business
practices. Routledge.
Online
Hybrid Model. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/hybrid_model/>