Evaluating Partnership Models in Health and Social Care: A Report

This report analyzes the concept of working in partnership within the health and social care sector, using the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust as a case study. It explores the philosophies underpinning partnership, such as empowerment, interdependence, autonomy, and respect, and evaluates the relationships between service users, medical professionals, and healthcare organizations. The report examines various models of partnership, including unified, coordinated, coalition, and hybrid models, assessing their pros and cons. It also reviews relevant legislation, like the Mental Health Act, and organizational practices. Furthermore, it identifies potential barriers to effective partnership working and proposes strategies to improve outcomes for service users, professionals, and organizations. The report highlights the importance of collaboration and communication in delivering quality care and addressing the increasing demands within the healthcare sector.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL
CARE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Explain the philosophy of working in partnership in health and social care.......................1
1.2. Evaluate partnership relationships within health and social care services...........................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Analyse models of partnership working across the health and social care sector.................3
2.2 Review current legislation and organisational practices and policies for partnership
working in health and social care................................................................................................5
2.3 Explain how differences in working practices and policies affect collaborative working....6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Evaluate possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and
organisations...............................................................................................................................7
3.2 Analyse the potential barriers to partnership working in health and social care services.....8
3.3 Devise strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care
services........................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
In today's business environment, it is not an easy task for an individual (business person)
to handle the business by his/her own. In order to make a company much more fruitful,
partnership can be considered as an effective approach that gives many opportunities for
individuals who are doing business on an agreement (partnership) (Barlow, Roehrich and
Wright, 2013). In present report, organisation that has been used named as Mid Staffordshire
NHS Foundation Trust which is basically situated in Stafford, England. From 2005 to 2009, this
trust was going through a number of problems which became as a reason that led whole
management to failure in offering required services to patients. Along with this, the whole
assessment will put light on different things like philosophies and relationships linked with
working in partnership. Away with this, report will also put focus on legislations, policies linked
with partnership among health care section. Including this, assignment will also include a
number of barriers while working in a partnership. In the last, assessment will keep its focus on
different strategies so that to create favourable environment while working in partnership.
TASK 1
1.1. Explain the philosophy of working in partnership in health and social care
In health and social care sector, it has been analysed that much philosophies are linked
with interdependence, empowerment, respect, autonomy, making of informed decisions, power
sharing and more. Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, basically was going through a
number of issues from 2005 to 2009. Some of issues that patients were going through at Mid
Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust like they were left unwashed, lack of care, without fluids,
unfed and more. This impacted negatively on overall reputation of Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust.
In present context, there are a range of philosophies linked to working in partnership in
health and social care are mentioned below:
 Empowerment of service users and partner organisations – Under this philosophy,
power or authority are the two main elements that probably make determinations or
offers individual's point of view (Cameron and et. al., 2014). Since Mid Staffordshire
NHS Foundation Trust was not offering right services to its patients, it would be required
for staff of hospitals to perform their tasks considering both need of patients and ethics of
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the hospital. In the given case, as Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was facing
issues which could be resolved through, sharing right information of patients with the
doctors or senior nurses through which right services can be given to staff.
 Independence and interdependence – This is being considered as a criteria linked with
self regulation or ability of grabbing good position for own without taking help of any
other. But, if it is talked about working in partnership, it is must for an individual to
perform tasks with mutual understanding (Cherry and Jacob, 2016). In the same way, it is
essential for staff of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to work with healthcare
providers. Taking decisions by own and with mutual understanding carry a difference and
at the time of working at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, it was pretty much
required for nurses to do both so that right strategy could be implemented for patients.
 Autonomy – A strategy that needed to be used in Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation
Trust so that authority can make quick decisions, immediate determinations. As care
home was going through different issues like lack of care, without fluids and so on.
Therefore, it was required for nurses to make decisions (liberty of making choice what
needs to be given to staff), at the time of delivering right services.
 Respect – It is being found that, some of individuals in Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust were going through different trauma, because they were not getting
respect based on knowledge, abilities and skills. This was also one of a reason, which
made conditions for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust more worst. While
working in partnership at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, it was required for
both nurses and doctors to respect decisions of each other as this could led them to
enhance services that home care was offering to its patients.
1.2. Evaluate partnership relationships within health and social care services
In health and social care sector, demands of service users (patients) are increasing.
Therefore, it has become vital for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to enhance their
profit margins. Thus, it is required to develop effective relationships among medical
professionals and nurses in order to perform activities through which maximum benefits could
easily be gained (Hibbard and Greene, 2013). Since Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust,
was basically facing a number of issues like it was unable to deliver proper services to patients.
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Here, it was required to make coordination through sharing right information to staff or to
supervisors in order to deliver correct services as per need.
Service user – In order to understand this element, relationship that has been taken is of
patients and the family members as well with medical professionals. It is being found that, this
relationship basically helps an individual to improve his/her health conditions. This can be done
if effective cooperation is presented among them. Here, proper communication is required
among patient, relatives and specialists (doctors) of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust
and through this proper details easily be brought out about disease and symptoms, past illness
that an individual is having. Through this maximum benefits like proper medication can be given
to the patient. For example a patient come to doctor, but doctor is not listening to patient
carefully or patient is not able to brief about the problem, then a proper solution is not possible
for patient.
Medical Professionals – In present context, medical professionals at Mid Staffordshire
NHS Foundation Trust are required to establish better coordination as well as cooperation among
them which facilitate to gain better results of treatment and patient can recover limited period of
time. Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust needed to make effective policies which helps to
avoid conflicts or issues which facilitate to make better relationships professionally to gain
desired outcomes in medications. For example, Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has to
make agreements with companies which provide medicines so that they can make them available
at lower price.
Different Healthcare Organisations – This is being considered as an effective
professional relation among two different healthcare institutes so that they could easily deliver
accurate information to with each other related to patient's conditions. It will render help to
provide correct medication immediately due to unavailability of services through referring them
to other institute to make patient well being (Lober and Flowers, 2011). For example,
partnerships among health care organisation like Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and
path lab which is required to conduct tests and treatment of particular patient.
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TASK 2
2.1 Analyse models of partnership working across the health and social care sector
A few models in present context (working in partnership) that could lead Mid
Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to perform well are mentioned beneath:
Unified model – This is one of a basic model of working in partnership and could be
considered as an effective strategy that could easily be managed under a system in a hospital.
Through this, individuals like employees of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and
through this they could easily gain maximum benefits. Apart from this, it could aid them in
offering right services to patients that were actually disturbed from what they were going through
within the hospital (Molassiotis and et. al., 2011).
Pros Cons
Considering this approach at Mid Staffordshire
NHS Foundation Trust, could help both staff
and doctors through following a single policy.
This will reduce number of issues/conflicts
among them.
A single policy for every authority whether the
person is a nurse, healthcare provider or a
specialist may not help in delivering right
service to patients that were suffering from
various diseases in Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust.
Co-ordinated model – Another care model of working in a partnership that basically
stays enclosed with a number of things like accurate coordination among medical professionals
like nurses, doctors, surgeons, specialist and pathologist. This may lead individuals (working in
partnership) in Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to develop or to make strong policies
which basically needs to follow every single employee with proper coordination.
Pros Cons
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust could
improve outcomes level through focusing on
this approach.
It may responsible for creating issues due to
higher and lower designations as per their
roles.
Coalition model – It is being considered as an effective technique which could basically
aid in carrying out favourable results at workplace. Here, the procedures basically stay
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interconnected with each other through which every single patient could easily get right service
as per the requirement. Since Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was going through
different problems as patients were not getting proper services. Offering them with right test as
per problem, CT Scan and medicine on routine to particular patient which helps to make them
well being.
Pros Cons
Using this approach at Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust could facilitate to improve
outcomes of medications by conducting every
activity separately.
Element is basically a time consuming process,
and is expensive as well. While Mid
Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is going
through a bad phase, it was actually not
possible for them to adopt this approach at
workstation (Phelan and et. al., 2015).
Hybrid model – A basic model which was developed on the basis of different demands
considering various problems or situation with the help of taking two and more models based on
suitable situation. With the help of this, favourable policies can easily be developed and
implemented at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust for betterment of the patients and of
others as well.
Pros Cons
Using this approach, Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust could easily adopt favourable
policies can be selected from different
approach based on the specific situation.
Hybrid model requires time for its
implementation at Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust and requires proper
establishment as well (Powell and et. al.,
2012).
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2.2 Review current legislation and organisational practices and policies for partnership working
in health and social care
While working in partnership, there are ample number of legislations and organisational
practice and policies that could be adopted by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. Some of
these are mentioned beneath: Mental Health Act, 1983 and 2007: In 2007, UK's government brought a few alterations
under Mental Health Act, 1983 and just after the modifications that took place this, act
got named as Mental Health Act, 2007 (Schoen and et. al., 2011). As, England & Wales
citizens (Patients) at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust were not treated well
because they were not aware of the fact that, they can sue the hospital for not delivering
right services to them which was coming under Mental Health Act, 1983 and 2007. The Health and Social Care Act, 2012: Under the section C 14, UK's government
prepared the health and social care act for patients of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation
Trust and all the care homes linked with NHS. This basically aid patients by offering
right service for their well-being.
 Children Act, 1989: In the year of 1989, government of United Kingdom became able to
differentiate tasks based on courts, local regimes, parents, and other institutions. This act,
offers proper security to patients (Children that are having citizenship of United
Kingdom) at the time of getting treatment in any hospital like Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust of England, Wales and other states of United Kingdom (Tew and et. al.,
2012).
Few practices and policies for partnership working in health and social care are:
 Organisation can provide some attendants, which are available for 24*7 to those patients
having special illness or require special care.
 Along with this, for patients suffering from disease which can get infected by cloths and
air, have to kept in special cell and attendants going there have to change their cloths
while entering and coming out of room.
Henceforth, it can be said that, it was pretty much required for Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust to basically follow legislations which has been developed by government of
United Kingdom. This could lead them to improve overall working structure.
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2.3 Explain how differences in working practices and policies affect collaborative working
Since Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was going through a range of problems
which led trust to become less capable of offering services to patients as per their requirements.
In order to fulfil the needs, collaborative working may aid Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation
Trust in serving patients with the best. But, if it is talked about differences in working practices,
then according to collaboration based approach it will affect overall working of Mid
Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. In present context, some of them are mentioned below:
Different working time - Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was offering
emergency services that means trust was working 24*7 and management including staff was
working in different shifts. Staff of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was basically doing
overtime which increased tension among them. Here, using collaboration approach was not much
capable of performing well (Twigg and et. al., 2011). In conditions like overtime of employees,
the performance of organisation cannot be enhanced using collaboration.
Different Policies and procedure – In the given case study of Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust, where performance level of employees was going down which impacted
negatively on medical services that has been offered by the trust. Here, different policies and
procedures of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, were not in favour of collaboration
working. Here, it was required for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to develop a single
policy for whole unit so that effective policy could be gained by them. Then only trust would
become able to develop collaboration working environment at workstation (Valentine,
Nembhard and Edmondson, 2015). Developing new policies which are single for whole unit can
lead them to make collaborating working environment.
Different Training – Since Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was going through
many circumstances where behaviour of attendants and doctors was not that good with patients.
Here, training linked with collaboration working would have helped trust in developing effective
policies for patient is very necessary to recovery in health of patient so for that reason training is
crucial. Making new policies for patients will lead to recovery in their health effectively, this can
lead to develop a good collaborative working system.
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TASK 3
3.1 Evaluate possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and
organisations
Working in partnership while performing tasks for users, professionals and organisation
can be both positive and negative at the same time. Some of these are given below:
Positive outcomes:
 Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust's staff are dedicated towards their and
performing tasks through collaborating with others (nurses, health providers and other)
will directly improve well-being of patients.
 Decision making, suggestions given by staff for betterment through mutual understanding
could help staff, clients and Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust as well.
 Employers offering training to staff so that they could work together with proper
knowledge about a task will directly, aid them in offering patients with right medical
service (Twigg and et. al., 2011).
 Partnership working of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust with different
organisation can help patients by proving better services and good outcomes in their
health.
Negative Outcomes:
 While working in a partnership, at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, it can be
said that it will raise conflicts among staff because every two employees may not carry
same perception.
 Collaboration among senior and junior nurses could lead them to misunderstand each
other.
 Working in partnership, can lead the partners in a league where they might get nervous or
feel less motivated because they are not getting any opportunity to work as single where
the decision taker will be the person only (Tew and et. al., 2012).
 Working in partnership, may lead to monopoly in medicines that are only available in
their organisation, this can cause to higher the cost of medicines.
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3.2 Analyse the potential barriers to partnership working in health and social care services
Partnership working is being considered as one of crucial element that basically may lead
health and social care sector to deliver right range of services to staff as per their requirements.
But, this also consist of different barriers and these are given underneath:
 Less communication and role clarity among staff.
 Various perceptions, objectives, attitude and goals of individuals of Mid Staffordshire
NHS Foundation Trust
 Unclear or unauthentic decisions made by staff at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation
trust
Henceforth, these are some basic barriers which may lead Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation trust to go through number of issues. A case of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation
trust is being taken where, just after the surgery, patient was placed into his/her room and nurses
and other staff did not help him/her in taking tablets and doing other things. This took place,
because there were no clear job roles given among staff which led whole organisation to go
through different issues and impacted in all over approach of partnership working (Schoen and
et. al., 2011).
3.3 Devise strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care
services
It is being found that, Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was basically faced a
number of problems. Therefore, it was pretty much needed for the organisation to use a range of
strategies that could aid in improving overall performance of trust in specific time frame. A
number of strategies in present case are given below:
 Since patients were not at all aware of specific systems of Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust, sharing information and empowering the clients which was the
strategy of the trust has helped them in making improvements.
 Sharing responsibility was basically can be considered as an effective strategy that
could lead Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to improve all over working
capacity of staff. This would basically aid in gaining specific goals along with
objectives which was bringing up health level of patients.
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 Another approach or strategy which was used by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation
Trust was that it started improving resources and started recruiting candidates with
good knowledge and skills (Lober and Flowers, 2011).
Henceforth, above mentioned strategies led has helped Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust in enhancing profit margins, medical services and all over reputation as well at
England and Wales marketplace.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report it has been concluded that working in collaboration or
partnership in health care department is quite important and refers to a coordinated process that
deals with making an individual free from diseases. It infuses various key philosophies such as
empowerment of service users, independence as well as interdependence, autonomy, respect etc.
It also contains partnered relationship at various levels in different healthcare business entities.
This report also includes number of models such as unified, coordinated and coalition model
with their advantages as well as disadvantages. Various legislative acts have also been specified
in this report with their positive as well as negative outcomes. Lastly, this report stresses on
effective strategy formulation that will help in working effectively within partnership. These
strategies are empowerment, communication and clarity of objectives.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Cameron, A. and et. al., 2014. Factors that promote and hinder joint and integrated working
between health and social care services: a review of research literature. Health & social
care in the community. 22(3). pp.225-233.
Cherry, B. and Jacob, S. R., 2016. Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management.
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Hibbard, J. H. and Greene, J., 2013. What the evidence shows about patient activation: better
health outcomes and care experiences; fewer data on costs. Health affairs. 32(2).
pp.207-214.
Lober, W. B. and Flowers, J. L., 2011, August. Consumer empowerment in health care amid the
internet and social media. In Seminars in Oncology Nursing (Vol. 27, No. 3. pp. 169-
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Molassiotis, A. and et. al., 2011. Unmet supportive care needs, psychological well‐being and
quality of life in patients living with multiple myeloma and their partners. Psycho‐
Oncology. 20(1). pp.88-97.
Phelan, S. M. and et. al., 2015. Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes
for patients with obesity. Obesity Reviews. 16(4). pp.319-326.
Powell, B. J. and et. al., 2012. A compilation of strategies for implementing clinical innovations
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Schoen, C. and et. al., 2011. New 2011 survey of patients with complex care needs in eleven
countries finds that care is often poorly coordinated. Health Affairs. 30(12). pp.2437-
2448.
Tew, J. and et. al., 2012. Social factors and recovery from mental health difficulties: a review of
the evidence. The British Journal of Social Work. 42(3). pp.443-460.
Twigg, J. and et. al., 2011. Conceptualising body work in health and social care. Sociology of
Health & Illness. 33(2). pp.171-188.
Valentine, M. A., Nembhard, I. M. and Edmondson, A. C., 2015. Measuring teamwork in health
care settings: a review of survey instruments. Medical care. 53(4). pp.e16-e30.
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