Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors: CHCPRP001 Assessment

This assessment book for CHCPRP001, "Develop and Maintain Networks and Collaborative Partnerships," focuses on understanding and applying networking and collaboration principles within a community services context. The assignment explores the definitions of networking and collaboration, their differences, and the importance of principles like engagement, inclusivity, and equity. It examines the potential benefits of collaborative relationships for individuals, organizations, and clients, particularly within the context of case management for at-risk populations. The assessment delves into the evaluation of collaborative efforts, requiring the identification of relevant questions to assess improved worker and organizational performance. Challenges and limitations of networking and collaboration are also addressed, with the goal of understanding potential obstacles and promoting effective practices. The assignment covers benefits, challenges and evaluation of networking and collaboration.

CHCPRP001
Develop and maintain networks and collaborative
partnerships
ASSESSMENT BOOK
for
CHCPRP001

Assessment Instructions
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Section 1
AN INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING AND
COLLABORATION
What is networking and collaboration?
1.1 In your own words, define both networking and collaboration and explain the difference
between them. (Your response should be no more than 100 words)
Networking refers to create a group of active associates and acquaintances with the help
of continuous interaction or communication for achieving individual goals or objectives.
Collaboration is a process in which more than two people or organisations working
together to achieve or realize an objective and project successfully. Networking is a
support system which helps in sharing services and information among group of
individuals having the same interest or goals whereas collaboration is a practice in which
group of people or individuals work together for accomplishing a task and achieve a
specified objective.
Principles of networking and collaboration
1.2 Select True or False in relation to the following statements.
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a) The principle of engagement is about prioritising time to work together with
individuals and other organisations to build positive relationships that will likely
lead to future partnership and collaborative activities.
True False
b) It is important to focus on gaps and deficits in the services and supports offered by
partners in a collaborative relationship, so that the group understands what they
need to improve on. It is not important to consider the strengths of case managers,
organisations, community partners, or clients.
True False
c) Inclusivity refers to ensuring participation from all relevant organisations and key
community stakeholders involved in a network or collaborative relationship.
Inclusive practices are those that respect differences and values diverse
contributions, look for solutions and areas of agreement, attempt to break down
barriers to communication, and provide a wide variety of opportunities to
participate in group processes.
True False
d) Equity is important because upholding this principle/value will ensure that
opportunities and resources available in the community are distributed justly and
according to the needs of the community.
True False
e) When working in a network or collaborative relationship, it is important that you
try to meet only the needs of your organisation and you. It does not matter if the
activities and efforts of the group are responsive to demands in the larger
community.
True False
f) Capacity building can be achieved without upholding the other principles of
networking and collaboration, and is more about the ultimate realisation of goals,
rather than the process of how goals were reached.
True False
Improving performance through networks and collaboration
1.3 Which of the following statements about the potential benefits to individuals,
organisations and clients is not true?
a) Networks bring people, organisations and resources from different geographical areas
together.
b) Networks and collaborative relationships help build the capacity of participating workers
and organisations.
c) The work accomplished through collaborative activities could probably be done by a
single organisation if their staff just worked harder.

d) Networks and collaborative relationships help to spread out responsibilities by allowing
individuals and groups to share ideas, experiences, and resources.
e) Networking and collaborative activities often result in improved client access to services
and supports.
Your answer: Networks and collaborative relationships help build the capacity of participating workers and
organisations.
1.4 Imagine that you are a case manager working for an organsiation that supports people at
risk of homelessness. There are several organisations in the area that support at-risk
people. These organisations often have to compete for resources for the service they
provide. There is one organisation that works specifically with at-risk men
experiencing addictions issues and another organisation that works with people who
have had past involvement from mental health services and are likely to have
experienced early traumas as a result of their family life. You work for a generalist
community service organisation. On your staff, you have one case manager who
specialises in housing support, another who helps people find employment, and you
specialise in counselling and supporting clients to access other services in the
community through referral.
a) Discuss three potential benefits these organisations would experience as a result of
working together in collaborative process to support at-risk clients. Think about possible
benefits to you and other workers, participating organisations, and clients. (Your response
should be no more than 100 words)
There are benefits of collaboration an organisation can get while performing various business
operation or tasks. These benefits are as described below -
1. It can help the organisations to gain flexibility, it can help the employees to work with
more flexibility without following a same routine every day.
2. It can help them to achieve the goals more effectively and efficiently, collaboration helps
a group or team to work together and attain the objectives faster.
3. Increased sources of information and data – Collaboration may also help the various
staffs in the organisation to stay connected and communicate relevant and important
information easily among each other.
b) Imagine that the organisations decide to work collaboratively. They have negotiated and
agreed that you will be responsible for the evaluation of how worker and organisational
performance has been improved through your networking and collaboration activities.
List four questions that you would consider when conducting your evaluation. (Your
response should be no more than 75 words)
Four questions that I would consider when conducting the evaluation are as mentioned below
-
 Whether the outcomes or results worth the expenditure effort, time and other
resources?
 What other impacts were observed while working in collaboration?
 Did we achieve or obtained the goals and objectives that were desired?
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 What have been the effect of collaboration on the customers?
1.5 Select True or False in relation to the following statements.
a) You should always focus on your own individual needs as a case manager
whenever you are engaged in networking and collaborative relationships.
True False
b) When prioritising needs, both individual and organisational, it is important to
understand the environmental context of the network or collaborative relationship
in which you are working. Generally, when working in a formal collaborative
partnership, your focus should be on organisational and group needs.
True False
Networking and collaborative challenges
1.6 In your own words, describe a possible limitation of working in networks and/or
collaborative relationships and explain why is it important to understand the limitation
of networking and collaboration you have identified? (Your response should be no
more than 75 words)
Working in networks or collaboration also have some limitations or risks which are as
mentioned below -
 Decreased and lack of flexibility within the working operations or practices.
 Risk of damage to the organisation and the wastage of resources if the collaboration is
not successful
 Diversion of resources and energy away from the organisational goals or objectives.
It is important to understand the above limitations in order to make appropriate changes and
improvements within the collaboration practices.
1.7 In your own words, list three other common challenges you may encounter when working
as a member of a network or collaborative relationship. (Your response should be no
more than 75 words)
There are various challenges an individual face while working in collaboration as described
below -
 Various conflict over opinions, strategies and positions.
 Uneven or Mistrust communication
 Issues related to personal objectives and power
1.8 There are six group dynamics proposed by Heaney and Israel (2008) that are important to
consider when working in networks and collaborative relationships: reciprocity,
intensity/density, formality, complexity, homogeneity, and directionality. In your own
words, complete the table below by providing a brief description of each of the six
group dynamics. Note: The first row, reciprocity, has been completed for you to give

you an idea about the level of depth required in your response. Hint: see pages 17-18
in your Study Guide.
Group Dynamics Description
Reciprocity The extent to which resources and support are both offered
by you or your organisation, and received by you your
organisation. The give and take in a network and
collaborative relationship should be equal.
Intensity/density It is the extent to which team members know and
communicate among themselves.
Formality Level to which social relationships exists with regards to
the organisational functions or roles.
Complexity The extent to which social relations serves various
functions or operations.
Homogeneity This is the extent to which the team or network members
are similar.
Directionality The level to which the team members influence and share
power within the project development.
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CHCPRP001 Assessment Book Section 1
Assessor’s Comments
To be completed by the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors to provide
constructive feedback on your responses to questions in Section 1 of this Assessment
Book.
Competent / Not Yet Competent
Assessor’s Name:
Date:

Section 2
DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE NETWORKS
AND
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Initiating networking and collaborative relationships
2.1 When developing their network, case managers have a responsibility to establish and
maintain links with a wide range of service providers so as to ensure that their clients
receive the best possible care. List six different types of service providers that case
managers should establish relationships with. (Your response should be no more than
20
words)
There are wide range of service providers a case manager needs to maintain a good
relationship with, there service providers are as listed below -
 Financial investors
 Suppliers
 Researchers
 Technicians
 Promoters
 Legal Advisor
2.2 In your own words, briefly define what is meant by the terms inter-sectoral and intra-
sectoral services. (Your response should be no more than 30 words)
Identifying relevant services and gathering information
2.3 Briefly outline three ways that case managers may identify new or previously unknown
services. (Your response should be no more than 30 words)
A case manager can use various methods or techniques to identify the new and previously
unknown services such as self evaluation process, staff meetings and group
discussion. It can help to gather important information about the various services.
2.4 List the critical information that case managers should gather about other service
providers if they are interested in adding the service to their referral network. Hint:
see page 23 of your Study Guide. (Your response should be no more than 75 words)
Information the case managers should gather about other service providers are as follows -
 How many members are needed and type of skills they have ?
 How they handle travel expenses and arrangements?
 How effective their services are?
 What is the importance of the services they provide ?
 Performance and value of the service providers within the market.
2.5 When embarking on the development of collaborative relationships, it is critical that you
ensure that potential partners will be able to develop a shared agenda and that all
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would benefit from a collaborative relationship. What are three questions you would
consider when initiating relationships possible collaborative partners? (Your response
should be no more than 75 words)
There are various questions arises when initiating relationships possible collaborative
partners which are as follows -
 Should we continue the partnership?
 What all purposes would the partnership will serve?
 What extent of partners should we be?
2.6 Select True or False in relation to the following statements.
a) Expanding networks and collaborative relationships to include the private sector
can make collaborations more comprehensive in meeting the needs of people in
the community.
True False
b) When developing collaborative relationships, case managers should focus their
attention on programs and services, and should avoid reaching out to local
businesses, as business do not tend to get involved in social issues.
True False
c) When developing collaborations it is important to negotiate and agree upon rules,
procedures for involvement, procedures for decision-making, and roles and
responsibilities of those contributing to the partnership.
True False
Types and levels of collaboration
2.7 ACT for Youth (2015) identify five levels on the continuum of collaboration, moving
from informal networks, to more formalised and strategic forms of collaboration.
Using your own words, complete the table below by describing each. Note: the first
row, networking, has been completed for you to give you an example of the depth of
information required in your response. Hint: see page 25 of the Study Guide.
Level of
Collaboration Description
Networking At the level of networking, participants are willing to
share information about their services and supports.
Networking requires a low level of trust and does not
take up a significant amount of time. Participants in
networks maintain their autonomy. In many situations
case managers engage in, networking is often sufficient
to reach a particular goal.
Coordinating In this level there is more formal understanding with
medium commitment and efforts. It enhanced the access
to resources and locations, improves specific expertise