Health and Social Care: Evaluating Partnership Working at Akari Care

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of partnership working within the health and social care sector, using Akari Care Ltd as a case study. It begins by explaining the philosophy of partnership, emphasizing shared authority, empowerment, and respect for service users. The report then evaluates partnership relationships at different levels, including service users, professionals, and organizations. It analyzes various models of partnership working, such as unified, coalition, coordinated, networking, and multiagency models. Furthermore, the report reviews relevant legislation, including the Care Act 2014 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012, and explains how differences in working practices and policies can affect collaborative efforts. The report also evaluates the potential outcomes of partnership working for service users, professionals, and organizations, as well as the barriers to effective collaboration, and finally suggests strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care services.

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......................1
2.1: Analyse models of partnership working across the health and social care sector...........2
2.2: Review (at least 2) current legislation and organisational practices and policies for
partnership working in health and social care........................................................................2
2.3 Explain how differences in working practices and policies affects the collaborative
working...................................................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Evaluate possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and
organisations...........................................................................................................................5
3. 2 Analyse the potential barriers to partnership working in health and social care services5
3.3 Strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care services
................................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Working in partnership with health and social care organisation brings together two
separate institutions. Partnership can be formed between ranges of individuals, agencies or firms
with shared interests. This is because the both organisations can benefit from pooled expertise,
resources and power sharing. Further, the aim of having a partnership is to boost the efficiency
and quality of service provision. Moreover, it has been observed that partnership working has
been determined to have advantages for workers, also it has been found to give more clarity
regarding roles and responsibilities.
The following report is on Akari Care Ltd., UK which and aims as demonstrating
partnership philosophies and relationships in care service. This will also include theories that will
promote positive working with users of services and outcomes of partnership working for
services users, professionals and organisations in health and social care services.
TASK 1
1.1 Explain the philosophy of working in partnership in health and social care
The meaning of partnership is organization i.e. Akari Care Ltd works in partnership with
various agencies, medical firms, and other organizations to serve quality services within the firm.
It has been found that the health & social care partnership is very crucial because it opens wide
prospects for the development of closer co-operation between organization and social workers.
When in health and social care context, individuals talk regarding philosophical thoughts of
working in partnership, which means philosophy in the first place is a state of mind which affects
the belief, values and behaviors of people. Further, among these philosophical concepts based on
partnership working, authority sharing, empowerment, freedom, respect, liberty and making
informed choices are some major concepts (Glasby and Dickinson, 2014).
The philosophy of partnership in Akari Care concentrates on the betterment of the quality
of life of service users. This is because health care providers and social workers can set standards
of care for clients, particularly those who are entirely dependent on care givers. Further, sharing
of power is the segmentation of labor among the concerned professionals engaged in the
partnership in the Akari Care organization. In addition, it is the delegacy of power to the right
professional so that the patient will receive the best support possible from the correct
professional. In case of Mrs. M and the care manager Joe there was a miscommunication and
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lack of understanding of how severe the health of condition of Mrs. M is, reveals the fact that the
Akari Care partnership is not always effective and successful. Further, the issue of professional
carelessness and the poor communication between them had undermined the effectiveness of
partnership in health and social care. At the same time, partnership in Akari Care being
integrated in one organization increases the risk of manipulation and misuse of partnership for
advantages of firm, instead for benefits of service users. Therefore, through this case it has been
proven that this type of partnership can be extremely unsafe for patients (Robert, Cornwell and
Gager, 2015).
1.2: Evaluate partnership relationships within health and social care services
The concept of partnership working is of utmost importance in provisioning effective
health and social care related services to the users. It thereby has distinct levels of partnership
working with a foremost level which is itself created by the service users. It involves the
relationship among the patients, professionals as well as the organization like Akari Care Ltd.
This is mainly in context to all of these 3 bodies with a vital partnership of the service user. This
makes yet another important consideration for other professional bodies to effectively serve the
users and maintain their dignity.
Another partnership level of professionals include collaboration among different
professionals who are known to work for improving the life of a service user (Pearson and
Watson, 2018). This is for instance on considering the involvement of more than one
professional body, such as, a therapy team including an occupational therapist, clinical
psychologist, speech and language therapist along with a nursing team to handle some sort of
disability. Considering the present case of Mrs M, she also requires different aids from a wide-
ranging team of professionals depicting such a collaborative level of partnership.
Lastly, an organizational level of partnership also exists among the professionals operating
in different HSC establishments. They hereby work in partnership for providing care to a
common service user. This is for example on referring to the involvement of a nursing care home
like Akari Care Ltd to take care of Mrs. M and any other local council or authority and charitable
trusts, etc. All of these 3 levels of partnership depict the contribution of several organizational
bodies concerned with a single aspect of provisioning effective care to the users. This often
represents yet another prime involvement of family member as well.
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Basically, partnership working is known to build an optimistic as well as non-judgmental
relationship among the healthcare professionals providing care to the service users and their
family members (Sullivan and Skelcher, 2017). It is usually done by assuring a timely provision
of multiagency services to the users in a well-coordinated manner. It has a key role of
information sharing with that to the family members as a way of empowering them to seek out
any help or advice they need. This is also a way of engaging the families in the process of
decision making and respect their opinions.
2.1: Analyse models of partnership working across the health and social care sector
It is to enlighten few effective models to be used for working in partnership in HSC
industry with a specific consideration of Akari Care Ltd. These models are apparent to assist in
an effective delivery of services to the users with a collaborative outlook in the professional
bodies who are accountable for provisioning services. There exists 5 such pertinent models
namely Hybrid, unified and coordinated and are as elaborated below-
1. Unified model- It is a foremost model which is commonly based on the concept of
amalgamation for provisioning effective services to the users (Cook, Mulherin and
Seditas, 2015). This involves the union of management concerned with procedures of
staffing, training and several budgetary requirements to provide fully integrated
services to the users.
2. Coalition model- This is referred to be yet another useful model of alliance to help
management to operate within federated partnership by keeping the other key
operations aside. Generally, this model is used with a vital insight of planning
together with an associated management of operations that will be carried out
separately. It thereby assists in maintaining the autonomy of the parties involved in
partnership working.
3. Coordinated model- This together involves the administration training and enrolment
structure of the associates to work in a synchronized manner and deliver harmonious
services to the users by remaining exclusively discrete (Knauer, Baker, Hebbeler and
Davis-Alldritt, 2015).
4. Networking model- It is yet another most essential model which is also simple to
apply and is used by the organizations like Akari Care Ltd to meet up regular and
share their undertaken practices by together discoursing upon the areas of unity. It is
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with a sense of commitment to move together for the attainment of future
opportunities. It is with a major consideration of delivering specific services to the
clients and users.
5. The Multiagency working model- This model is used for sharing the accessible
resources to operate jointly and deliver effective services to the users (Sheehy, 2017).
The level of partnership that is based on this model includes clear plans and carefully
managed relationships for getting an assured success. However, it together needs to
develop a trustworthy agreement among the parties involved to work in partnership.
It is with a sole consideration of achieving more effective outcomes by working
together, rather operating discretely.
2.2: Review (at least 2) current legislation and organisational practices and policies for
partnership working in health and social care
There exist different legislative norms that impacts upon the partnership working of Akari
Care Ltd by together regulating their organizational practices to a great extent. However, there
exists a slight line of difference among practices and policies where policy depicts a set of
knowledge to be applied within a situation that has been officially accepted by the business,
political party, a group of individuals or government. Whereas, procedures depict those set of
actions that are officially accepted as a way of conducting a practice. Below are some such
legislations and their description in detail-
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 Care Act 2014- This involves a constitutional need for the local establishments to
collaborate, integrate and unite together with another public health authority to render
effective services to the users (Huby, Cook and Kirchhoff, 2018). This act is specially
meant to improve the concept of partnership working with guidelines on the way of
providing collaborative services. This act also values the sense of autonomy and states it
to be a critical element for wellbeing.
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 Health and social care act 2012- This is referred to be yet another crucial legislative act
promoting the consideration of joint working (Farmer, Currie, Kenny and Munoz, 2015).
It thereby provides a framework for the concerned authorities to incorporate with their
respective partner commissioning group and determine the scope of delivering the need
in the most effective manner.
2.3 Explain how differences in working practices and policies affects the collaborative working.
The working practices and policies both affect largely to collaborative working. A policy
is the course of action which is designed by the government or the business to in order to
influence as well as ascertained the decision making. When the policies are in the company for
the collaborative working of the two or more company than for the business it can be positive or
negative. Akari Care Ltd is also made policies for collaborative working in order to bring
efficiency in the performance of employees as well as organisation (Glasby and Dickinson,
2014). When organisation works together and bring productive work than it will be very
beneficial for both the company and employees get influenced as well as motivated with the
policy of another organisation. It leads to positive effect on the company's performance. On the
other hand, the policies also lead to negative effect when collaborative working arises conflicts
and battles between the companies because of implementation of their own policies. Thus,
collaborative working is successful when companies make balance between the policies and
working practices of both the organisation.
Here are the practices of working and policies which are used different sectors for
collaborative working-
National Healthcare Services (NHS)- It is one of the leading organisations in UK which
provides services in health and care sectors. NHS used to work in collaboration with many small
sectors organisations in health care (Cameron and et.al., 2014). They also support the policies
which include the course for the patients along with their families like meditations, management
of anger etc.
Education- Education also played a great role in promoting good health to people. The
main organisations in the healthcare industry is school, colleges, universities and other
institution. They focus on raising the knowledge of the society.
Government- The role played by government in health care is outstanding. They used to
provide services and help various sectors such as allocation of resources, financial and any other
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help which are required (Glasby, 2017). Government work with the collaboration with many
organisations in healthcare sector and other as well.
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TASK 2
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3.1 Evaluate possible outcomes of partnership
working for users of services, professionals
and organisations
There are both positive and negative aspects of the of
working in partnership, the same are briefly
described below:
Positive outcomes for
service users
Negative outcomes
for service users
 Services can be
enhanced by
working together
as new ideas can
be developed. It is
possible due to the
reason that
working together
always helps in
sharing views and
thoughts and
services can be
improved by the
same (World
Health
Organization,
2014).
 New polices and
process can help
the service users in
getting services
faster and in
effective manner.
 Due to the
partnership
there are
various
chances of
arising
conflicts due to
miscommunica
tion and ego
clashes of
employees.
 The chance of
the delivery of
extra and
duplicate data
or services
increases due
to the
mismanageme
nt in the
service and
home care
(Paul and
et.al., 2015).
Positive outcomes of the
partnership working for
the organisations
negative outcomes of
the partnership
working for the
organisations
 Comprehensive
provision of
services might be
rendered by the
partnership for
organisation.
 Operation and
working on the
principle of
sharing.
 Logical
approaches.
 The services which
 Cost might be
raised.
 Loss of shared
purpose.
 Breakdown of
communicatio
n
3. 2 Analyse the potential barriers to
partnership working in health and
social care services
There are various barriers to the firm that
works in partnership in health and social
care services. The same are discussed
below:
Structural barriers: Every organisation
has its own structure and it differs for
another companies. It makes difficult
while doing partnership with different
structure organisation due to the
differences. These leads to lack in
providing proper services and service
users can get dissatisfied through the
same. These barriers in the structure also
make it difficult for employees to adopt
each other’s different culture and working
environment changes (Smith, Cheater and
Bekker, 2015).
Procedural barriers: Every organisation
has its own way of dealing with the
situations and also every establishment
differs in the way they render services.
Service users finds it more difficult at the
time of partnership to take services in
inappropriate manner. As it is difficult to
adopt different processes and policies at
the time of partnership working in health
and social care services. So it is also one
of the barrier that is being faced by the
organisations (Glasby and Dickinson,
2014).
Financial barriers: It is not at all
necessary that organisation which are
coming together in form of a partnership
have same financial resources. And every
company operates after knowing their
financial limits and operates accordingly.
3.3 Strategies to improve outcomes for
partnership working in health and social
care services
Partnership and collaborative working
benefits health and social care units as they can
manage effective communication and provides
effective healthcare services to people.
Partnership working will allow social care units
to enhance and ensure better services to its
customers. New policies and procedures made
in collaborative working will facilitate health
and social care units. Akar Care Ltd. Aims at
increasing efficiency of employees and to make
better utilization of available resources,
therefore makes policies for collaboration.
Various strategies need to be adopted by Akar
care Ltd. to improve results and outcomes for
collaborative working with health and social
care. Strategies will facilitate better utilization
of available resources and brings effective
outcomes.
Akar Care Ltd. needs to maintain and develop
efficiency of its staff members and also aim at
increasing their capability to meet target goals
and objectives. Akar Care Ltd. needs to ensure
that its staff members are capable of providing
quality services to clients and making them
satisfied. Partnership working can bring
positive results when both companies have
mutual understanding.
Therefore, partnership strategies needs to made
by considering understanding and objectives of
both collaborative organisations.
Partnership with health and social care will
benefit joint training for staff members and it
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are provided
should be
integrated.
 Common practices
of working.
Positive outcomes of
the partnership
working for the
professionals
Negative outcomes of the
partnership working for
the professionals
 The roles and
responsibilitie
s are clearly
mentioned.
 Organised as
well as
effective
communicatio
n.
 Fraudulent
activities will
be minimized.
 Optimum
utilization of
resources.
 The competition
will be raised in
between the
professional.
 Chances of
miscommunication.
 Mismanagement of
financial support.
Hence, it is easy for the organisation to
run and operate the service system as per
their financial strength. But in partnership
this ia big barrier of finance that is faced
and creates problem in carrying
partnership business.
Professional barrier: Organisation
operates as per the rules and regulation
that are being set at the time of its
incorporation. It is the duty of
management to effectively enhance and
modify certain policies as per the demand
of situation and market competition. But
due to the different working environment
and policies of the company it makes it
difficult to run the business in partnership.
As both the social care which are
establishing the new partnership has to
adopt each other culture and working
system (Amans, 2017). It makes difficult
for employees working with the social
care and ultimately it affects the business
of health and social cares.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
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.
Cameron, A., Lart, R., Bostock, L. and
Coomber, C., 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.
Glasby, J., 2017. Understanding health and
social care. Policy Press.
will also appropriate training and developments
programs which will improve capabilities and
efficiency of employees. Strategies needs to
facilitate optimum and best utilization of
available resources so that quality services can
be provided to patients and clients. Both
collaborative organisations need to lay down
clear policies, procedures, protocols and
systematic information while forming
strategies so that effective results can be
achieved. Views, ideas and suggestion to
improve strategies needs to state by both
partnership organisation as this will help in
developing effective strategies.
Akar Care Ltd. Needs to develop strategies for
evaluating results and outcomes after doing
collaboration with health and social care
systems. Strategies needs to include specific
performance indicators that measures
effectiveness of partnership. Indicators can
measure success in form of analysing ration of
improved health care facilities, satisfaction of
patients and clients, efficiency of staff
members, development level of both
organisations involved in partnership working,
etc.
Collaborative working with health and social
care will facilitate when effective plans and
strategies are made. Both partnership
organisation needs to follow procedure
provided by mutual agreement and
understanding as this will facilitate in
providing effective services to its clients and
patients.
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CONCLUSION
Partnership working with social and health care system brings positive outcomes and
results. It aims at improving and developing operation and activities of health care organisation
that leads to increase efficiency for both collaborative companies. Partnership working is a
complex procedure that requires various steps to be followed. Effective business strategies need
to be made to bring positive and effective outcomes. While making collaborative strategies it
needs to consider understanding of both companies and their objectives as well so that it brings
effective outcomes. There are various factors which act as barriers in effective partnership
working, therefore, effective strategies need to be made which can bring effective outcomes.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Amans, D., 2017. An introduction to community dance practice. Macmillan International Higher
Education.
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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.
Cook, A., Mulherin, T. and Seditas, K., 2015. Partnership working across UK public
services. Edinburgh: What Works Scotland.
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integrated care and how can we deliver it?. Policy Press.
Glasby, J., 2017. Understanding health and social care. Policy Press.
Huby, G.Ø., Cook, A. and Kirchhoff, R., 2018. Can we mandate partnership working? Top down
meets bottom up in structural reforms in Scotland and Norway. Journal of Integrated
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Hunter, D.J. and Perkins, N., 2014. Partnership working in public health. Policy Press.
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advice services.
Knauer, H., Baker, D.L., Hebbeler, K. and Davis-Alldritt, L., 2015. The mismatch between
children’s health needs and school resources. The Journal of School Nursing. 31(5).
pp.326-333.
McIntosh, E.A., 2017. Working in partnership: The role of Peer Assisted Study Sessions in
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Paul, M., Street, C., Wheeler, N. and Singh, S.P., 2015. Transition to adult services for young
people with mental health needs: A systematic review. Clinical child psychology and
psychiatry. 20(3). pp.436-457.
Pearson, C. and Watson, N., 2018. Implementing health and social care integration in Scotland:
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community. 26(3). pp. e396-e403.
Robert, G., Cornwell, J. and Gager, M., 2015. Patients and staff as codesigners of healthcare
services. Bmj. 350. pp. g7714.
Smith, J., Cheater, F. and Bekker, H., 2015. Parents' experiences of living with a child with a
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Sullivan, H. and Skelcher, C., 2017. Working across boundaries: collaboration in public
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Online
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<https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/do-engagement/partnership-working/
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