Partnership working is recognised as the most effective way of improving social care services, and a non-negotiable part of the government’s aim is to provide a seamless care service. However, for students undertaking placements or for more experienced professionals moving to a different service area, the question is: what does it mean in practical terms?
This book is both an introduction and an in-depth analysis of partnership working across the public sector in the UK. In a comprehensive discussion of partnership working, Anthony Douglas explores:
- The history of partnership working, its theoretical base and practical applications
- Why partnership working is important
- How professionals are already working together
- How to develop good partnerships and address common difficulties
- How to ensure that partnership working really does result in better practice
- The future of partnership working
The analysis and examples range across the whole of the public sector with a primary focus on social care. Drawing on up-to-date research evidence and using plenty of practical examples and thinking points, Partnership Working will be of interest to students and researchers at all levels and practitioners and managers of front-line services.
1. A Rationale for Partnership Working 2. The Changing Context for Partnership Working 3. Who Are the Partners? Part 1: Social Care Partnerships 4. Who Are the Partners? Part 2: Partnerships with other Agencies 5. Building and Supporting A Partnership 6. Partnership Working in Practice 7. Effective Partnership Working 8. The Future of Partnership Working
Biography
Anthony Douglas is Chief Executive of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), Chair of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and a visiting fellow of the University of East Anglia. He has written three previous books on social care. He was awarded a CBE in 2008 for services to family justice and adoption.
'To be blunt I believe we should no longer tolerate vulnerable people being exposed to even greater danger, abuse or exploitation because of the failure of key organisations and their staff being unable, or unwilling, to work effectively across organisational boundaries. Anthony Douglas is to be congratulated on producing a well researched, timely, practical and instructive book on successful partnership working. It can be done. I hope that the "Good Practice" outlined in this valuable book soon becomes standard practice everywhere.' - Lord Laming, Chair of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry
'The book provides a lively, clearly written, and comprehensive overview of the issues around partnership working. Importantly, it covers partnerships with family members as well as partnerships with colleagues. Coming from an author steeped in the issues and debates, it will be valued by politicians, commissioners and practitioners working in the helping professions. It is also a highly readable resource for those new to the subject on social science and qualifying courses.' - June Thoburn, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, University of East Anglia
'The book is a valuable and comprehensive guide for students, practitioners, managers and others...Douglas is to be congratulated on making an excellent contributionto social care development and providing us with a practical toolkit for improving or practice' - Children and Young People Now
