Report on Working in Partnership in Health and Social Care

This report provides an in-depth analysis of working partnerships within the health and social care sectors, focusing on the collaboration between health and social care departments, such as the one at St. Vincent hospital. It explores the philosophy behind such partnerships, emphasizing the mutual benefits for both service providers and recipients. The report delves into various partnership models, including separate business entities, virtual models, coalition models, and hybrid models, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, it examines relevant legislations and organizational policies, such as The Equality Act, Disability Discrimination Act, and Mental Capacity Act, and their impact on collaborative working. The analysis includes the impact of partnership on professionals and organizations, identifies common barriers to effective collaboration, and proposes strategies for improvement, aiming to enhance the quality of care and service delivery in the healthcare ecosystem.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP IN
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Philosophy behind working in partnership by health and social care..............................1
1.2 Partnership relationships within health and social care services......................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Analysing various models of partnership between health and social care sector.............5
2.2 Various legislations and Organizational policies for working partnership......................6
2.3 Impact of collaborative working......................................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Impact of partnership on professionals and organizations...............................................8
3.2 Barriers to partnership......................................................................................................9
3.3 Strategies to improve working partnership.....................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Health is somehow related to social welfare of people so as to work with energy taking
care of well-being. The term partnership refers to combination of two or more people or projects
working together in harmony in order to achieve combined goals. Partnership in health and
social care is all about providing welfare to people by taking care of their health and community
overall. Working together, they both provide competitive advantage to the society by sustainable
use of resources. The health and social care at Vincent provides long term facilities to patients
and employees thereby contribute towards society. A well implemented and planned
organization fulfil the needs of both employees and patients by creating relationship between
them which improves working conditions and management of Vincent hospital.
TASK 1
1.1 Philosophy behind working in partnership by health and social care
The term partnership refers to mutual relationship amongst people or organizations.
Mutually working of health sector with social care department brings out partnership philosophy
in between two segments (Stacey and et.al., 2011). The working together of these departments
will bring benefits to both employees who are providing services and people who are acquiring
services of these departments. A healthy relationship between patients and health care
professionals depicts a social atmosphere where duties and responsibilities are fulfilled.
Partnership between health professionals providing care to patients and staff personnel of
hospital brings out a place where responsibilities are fulfilled in harmony.
It is an important aspect as both; health care and social welfare opens prospects for
development of society. Their partnership allows especially old age people all services related to
health and social care (Murray and et.al., 2012). For instance, many social care programs are not
available to every person having health issues which can be made available to them by
combining social care with health department which will improve the interaction in between both
departments providing services to needy. Health professional’s main motive is to provide safe
and secured services to their patients and thereby improving quality of life by being in
partnership with each other. Both health care employees and social workers can provide
standardized and highly specialized services to patients by improving the overall quality of
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services together (Baxter, Glendinning and Clarke, 2008). The importance of health
professionals and social care worker’s partnership can bring in various reforms such as:
Illustration 1: Health and Social Care
(Source: Global surgery and health, 2018)
 The patients are provided with all sufficient services required to be taken care by health
professionals. The management team provides goals that need to be achieved by
employees and workers in a sufficient manner (Leathard, 2013). At St. Vincent hospital,
staff is engaged in providing services to everyone suffering from low to high diseases in
the best manner by working in partnership with social care department employees.
 Each health activist and social care employee performs crucial roles in safeguarding
patients by curing their diseases in the best possible manner. At Vincent health of people
is a major concern of doctors which is cured by equal treatment given to all (Gilmore,
Savell, and Collin, 2011).
 All employees and workers are cordially communicating with each other by creating an
atmosphere of harmony which results in satisfaction to both; staff and family members
and thereby improving services (Leathard, 2013).
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1.2 Partnership relationships within health and social care services
Collaboration between health and social care department of Vincent hospital brings out
the importance and significance of working which diffuses workload and maintain cordial
relationship in between doctors and patients. The partnership helps in solving many issues
efficiently by health professionals and social workers (Petch, Cook and Miller, 2013). Vincent
works towards enhancing relationship between doctors and clients thereby taking care of serious
patients immediately.
The major aspect of partnership between health and social care is to enhance the well-
being of people of UK so as to reduce the ratio of diseases. To be precise, professionals at
Vincent should focus on providing quality services to patients by forming partnership with social
activists and not just increasing profit margin by such a collaboration which might stake lives of
people (Reeves and et.al., 2011).
Various attributes of partnership involve quick reaction to emergency and better decision
making which helps to improve the facilities and welfare of people (Giddings and Winter, 2013).
These include:
 Safeguarding of clients and their health and safety,
 Providing health services at reasonable prices as a factor of social justice,
 Promoting dignity by treating every patient equally,
 Performing duties and responsibilities under ethical standards,
 Safeguarding culture and moral values of individuals,
 Providing of exclusive treatment to an individual' health,
 Safeguarding interest of every patient and their personal information.
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(Source: Working in Partnership in Health and Social Care, 2018)
Thus, the partnership brings in authority and responsibility to empower employees and
social workers to take corrective measures (Millar and Hall, 2013). Such collaboration acts as a
provision of health and social care which is provided at Vincent by staff personnel and workers
to patients.
The integration of health and social care within St. Vincent hospital has intensified
relationship of employees and management since extensive services are being provided by
skilled and technical professionals which came together due to partnership between two sectors.
The hospital workers and social welfare team members are cordially working to achieve
common goal that is welfare of people. The provision of care has been extended as partnership of
segments brought in qualified personnel and employees together to work towards a common
factor so as to enhance social care and health aspects of society in which it is operating.
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Illustration 2: Attributes of Partnership between Health and Social Care

TASK 2
2.1 Analysing various models of partnership between health and social care sector
The partnership between two organizations is based on certain norms which has to be
fulfilled in order to bring advantage to both. These persons need to follow certain basic
principles while providing health and social care to clients as well as to maintain efficient and
effective working of organization (Global surgery and health, 2018). At St. Vincent
management is continuously checking on the working of employees and their performance
towards enhancing organizations virtue. There are mainly four types of models taken into
consideration while analyzing partnership between social and health care. These are:
Separate business entity
It refers to those organizations which tends to work together in partnership must be two
separate entities different from each other. Only these type of organization could come in
together having a legal identity as a partnership firm (Reeves, Lewin, Espin and Zwarenstein,
2011). Since these organizations are legal entities, government funding is usually not permitted
as they have their own financial system working towards welfare of people.
Virtual model of business
This model provides collaborative working environment for both organizations. The
partnership though have a distinct identity but no legal formulation is needed. One partner may
recruit and select staff personnel and design a separate logo and name for partnership thereby
dominating the collaboration (Millar and Hall, 2013). It also involves training and management
of employees so as to provide quality services. It includes all health care and social services and
has a separate financial system.
Coalition mode of partnership
This model refers to when two organizations forms a collaboration to achieve a common
objective thereby serving people in an effective manner so as satisfy them in a best possible way.
Both organizations perform separately but coordinates various activities so as to gain
competitive advantage (Reeves, Lewin, Espin and Zwarenstein, 2011). At Vincent the health and
social care department are two different entities working together to implement successful
system for serving and assisting patients.
Hybrid model of partnership
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This model of business focuses on achieving business goals and objectives by bringing
together separate organizations into partnership. It helps in effective planning, coordination and
collaboration of various functions of employees, workers and management by sharing decision
making approach of health and social care. It also emphasizes on clear communication and
coordination of services so as to provide quality health care services by maintaining social and
ethical standards (Murray and et.al., 2012).
2.2 Various legislations and Organizational policies for working partnership.
There are many laws and ordains passed by government to regulate services of health and
social care organizations for the safety and security of patients as well as workers performing
services. It is a set of policies and principles that gives a definite direction to a company, a
procedure is a sequential method to implement an organizational policy and it defines a legal
series of activities that is being undertaken to accomplish a task in a consistent manner. There are
many policies and legislations passed by UK government for protecting health care and social
welfare of people which affects working partnership businesses (Leathard, 2013). These
legislations are
The Equality Act, 2010
The partnership organization incorporates Equality Act 2010 which protects employees
and patients from any kind of discrimination at hospital. Any sort of misbehave on basis of sex,
race or disability by the management is punishable under law with fine and imprisonment. Equal
treatment is given to all irrespective of any favoritism or biasness on wealth basis.
Disability Discrimination Act, 1995
This provision of government entails no discrimination based on any disability should be
done by either employees or management towards patients or clients (Millar and Hall, 2013). No
one has the right to discriminate about either the physical or mental state of a person and thus, all
information is required to be kept confidential between doctors and patients.
Care Standard Act, 2000
This legislation of UK government had provided various care institutions such as nurses
and children associations, clinics, family centers, residential care homes for welfare of people
(Leathard, 2013).
Mental capacity Act, 2005
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It is another act of UK government which empower that section of society who are
mentally disable and cannot make plans for their own welfare and standard of living a life.
Mentally ill people have been given an equal right to make decisions for themselves and this act
protect their right to take decisions (Stacey and et.al., 2011).
Children’s Act, 1989
This act of UK government secure the safety of children below a mature age and protect
rights of a child which is coming future of the country. The government have special laws
regarding children and their health which is required to be taken care by all health care service
providers working in country.
Human Rights Act 1998
The human rights are being protected under this act of government body which has a
series of rights and policies against a human whether employees or patients in hospital.
2.3 Impact of collaborative working
The health and social care before their collaboration worked differently based on various
policies and procedures (Gilmore, Savell and Collin, 2011). With partnership between health and
social care working of hospitals have been changed as work load has been minimized and quality
has raised by union of technical and expert personnel at St Vincent. Policies affects working of
business at some or the other way which might impact in positive or negative manner. Working
in collaboration is a difficult task as it implies managing range of employees and their
performance which might hamper the image of formed organization. Major emphasis is given on
usage of advanced technology and innovation to cure certain diseases and to carry out extensive
research about various problems.
At Vincent many doctors, consultants, radiologists, pharmacists, physiotherapists,
occupational therapists, specialist diabetic and respiratory nurses, dietitians etc work together in
harmony by following policies and procedure while delivering health and social care to patients
and clients. The health and social care at Vincent provides long term facilities to patients and
employees thereby contribute towards society (Petch, Cook and Miller, 2013). All these
professionals in collaboration with social workers are trying to serve quality and expert services
so as to gain competitive advantage as well as exclusive well-being is provided to people. The
management focus on empowering employees and workers so as to enhance better services to
people which will benefit the community overall thereby reducing major diseases and raising life
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rate. There are many policies and regulations which impact collaborative working of health and
social care system as different needs and desires of employees needs to be fulfilled and
objectives of overall organization needs to be taken care which hamper certain rules. At Vincent,
the partnership of health and social care system has brought many changes in overall working
thereby increases footfall of patients, raised services and workload is unmanageable which has
hamper overall treatment to patients (Baxter, Glendinning and Clarke, 2008).
TASK 3
3.1 Impact of partnership on professionals and organizations.
The partnership of health and social care has impacted professionals, service users and
organizations in both positive and negative ways. There are many employees, workers and
professionals providing services to clients 24 hours a day are affected by many policies, rules
and regulations which may hamper their need and desires (Leathard, 2013). The various possible
outcomes of working partnership between health and social care for clients, employees and
organization are:
Positive impact
The partnership might result positively as employees perform at their best by delivering
quality health and social care to patients thereby improving their standard of living and well-
being of society. Mainly the impact of collaboration emphasizes on improved services, enhanced
relationship, empowerment, authority and responsibility and precise decision making by
management and organizations towards workers and users of services. The authority provide
professionals to take care of health and social well-being of people by providing exclusive
services irrespective of their wealth status (Giddings and Winter, 2013). A good provision of
working partnership will increase empowerment of users, professionals and organization in
community. Respect and independence should be provided to all in matter of making crucial
decisions either by patients or his/her family members.
Negative impact
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The negative outcome of working partnership between health and social care professionals
and users imply miscommunication and disrespect on part of management towards patients
or workers of organizations (Petch, Cook and Miller, 2013). Communication plays an
important role in making relationship between people which if not given importance may
lead to disrespect and misconception between members. Partnership works on effective
communication between all employees and management personnel. It may hamper
working and leads to conflicts amongst employees. Confusion is created when clear
instruction of admission or discharge is not provided to patients or management team.
Duplication of data or services may hamper working of partnership between health and
social care department. 3.2 Barriers to partnership
Working in partnership is a crucial task which has many barriers. Lack of competence,
knowledge and skills between workers hamper the working partnership. Hierarchical culture of
management at times affect collaborative organizations as each decision is taken by top
management team and it has to be followed by everyone. There are many barriers which could
affect working of an effective health and social care partnership such as:
Structural barriers
The structure of health and social care partnership causes problems in effective working
as employees and social workers are tend to come together to perform services which is not an
easy task (Giddings and Winter, 2013). The structural difference sometimes cause troubles while
establishing the partnerships in health and social care as particular employee is not compatible to
take up a certain position in a different organization.
Professional barriers
Every professional has a certain area of expertise which is not easily adaptable by others.
Thus barriers in professional setup involves changes in policies and procedures which were
before easily adaptable. In partnership business varied values and responsibilities tend to be
respected and obeyed which might cause dissatisfaction to workers and create chaos amongst
employees and management.
Financial barriers
These barriers conclude differences in financial system of partnership firm which might
restricts incentives and bonuses or employee recognition as compared to sole organizations. It
creates conflicts against workers and may demotivate them to perform at their best (Millar and
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Hall, 2013). The working of health and social care together affects financial aspect of
organization as social motive doesn't involve making of profits rather emphasizes on community
well-being.
Procedural barriers
Every organization has a set procedure which needs to be followed so as to provide
quality services in health care department. In collaborative organizations each service is divided
among workers to be fulfilled by combing their expertise and performing tasks together so as to
achieve objective by satisfying needs of patients.
3.3 Strategies to improve working partnership
Various strategies have been devised to improve health and social care partnership so as
to remove barriers while serving to users. Emphasize should be placed on effective use of
communication between employee and management as well as to patients which will enhance
productivity thereby providing quality services (Health and Social Care Partnership, 2018).
Every worker should be empowered with authority and required responsibility should be given in
order to make certain decisions so as to enhance health services in accordance with social and
ethical standards. Sharing of awareness is another strategy which needs to be followed as it will
not only increase quality of service as well as provides knowledge to people about various health
and safety measures.
 Various responsibilities is assigned to nurses and doctors which helps in enlightening
patients and their well-being.
 Proper training is provided to employees to carry out various treatments necessary for
curing patients and their diseases along with handling situations which are specific to
certain issues.
 Implementation of assessment of risk should be done in working partnership between
health and social care as it will help to reduce the problems and could provide immediate
solutions.
 Strategies needs to be made regarding fund allocation to different departments in working
health and social care partnership.
 Strictly obeying of rules and regulations should be taken care for successful working or
partnership organizations by all doctors, nurses’ therapists and others in order to deliver
quality health and social care services.
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