Effective Communication is the Most Essential Element of Successful Partnership Working - Essay Example

? Effective Communication is the Most Essential Element of Successful Partnership Working Table of Contents Introduction 3 Partnership Working and its Importance 4 Policies and Practices of Effective Partnership Working 5 Characteristics of Effective Partnership Working 7 Managing Risk and Partnership Working in Practice: A Case Study 11 Professional Boundaries in Partnership Working 12 The Process to Change Impact on Partnership Working Across Boundaries 13 Power and Leadership within Partnership Working 14 Teamwork and Group Work 15 Conclusion 16 References 17 Bibliography 20 Introduction The perception of partnership working is fundamentally regarded as an overreaching purpose which has been generally formed for the purpose of addressing any specific issue that might be either short or long-term. It has been apparently observed that it is playing quite an imperative part in this modern context. In relation to the conception of partnership working, the role of effective communication can widely be recognised to be one of the major elements for the partners in order to achieve desired outcomes. An effective communication process in the partnership program enables to obtain significant benefits to accomplish overall objectives, and it also provides efficient support to sustain effective understanding among the partners (Fitzgerald & Kay, 2008). The concept of partnership programme is usually formed between different individuals or agencies with shared interest. With this particular concern, it has been observed that the partners within the context of partnership working need to be much cooperative as well as better communicators for the motive of accomplishing a co-ordinated service (Thanet District Council, 2008). The paper intends to briefly discuss the notion of partnership working and its significant aspects including policy as well as practice implication, required skills and quality concerning partnership working. The discussion of this paper will also include the major characteristics of effective partnership working and how it can impact on professional accountability. Moreover, the paper will further consider the importance of partnership working in order to manage risks and complexities in both individual and organisational level. Partnership Working and its Importance Partnership working is considerably recognised as one of the effective approaches that involve adequate communication and coordination between the individuals or groups to achieve shared objectives. An effective partnership can be recognised more beneficial for an organisation in terms of achieving competitive position through efficiently addressing the challenges that are generated within the business process. A successful partnership approach involves various elements that are significantly relevant to achieve interests of each individuals or groups. In an organisation viewpoint, adequate process of communication, coordination as well as cooperation is the major elements of an effective partnership programme. In order to identify the major elements of partnership programme, an effective form of communication among the partners is also essential, which facilitates the construction of a favourable relation between the partners. Moreover, an effective form of communication can also reduce possible risks which can hinder the overall performance of the programme (Branfield & Beresford, 2006). Importance of Partnership Working The significance of partnership working has been experienced by different individuals, agencies, groups or organisations by a significant degree (Department of Health, 2008c). An effective partnership working generally involves the deliverance of co-ordinated packages that ensures to improve the practices of each individual within the business or operational process. It also facilitates the groups or organisations to effectively handle the issues which impose adverse impact upon the process. An effective partnership working amid the agencies or organisations can also provide beneficial outcome for them to reduce the possible impact on organisational fragmentation. It is obvious that lack of comprehending the respective responsibilities as well as the duties of the individuals or the groups might lead towards poor along with ineffective communication and frustration. In this regard, the significance of partnership working lies in the fact that it can enhance the experience of the individuals relating to services and can also lead to positive consequences (Audit Commission, n.d.). Therefore, in order to accomplish individual roles and responsibilities, an effective communication is one of the major elements for the partnership programme. An effective communication among the partners plays a vital part in terms of aligning roles and responsibilities; required skills and capabilities along with potential individuals or groups to successfully achieve the desired outcomes. Policies and Practices of Effective Partnership Working The idea of partnership working considerably prioritises effective execution of policies and aims to ensure greater performance in the overall process of healthcare institutions (Department of Health, 2004a). The policy regarding partnership working can be classified into two major divisions. First, the goal of effective partnership is to explore the coverage of providing adequate service in order to attain expected outcome within the process of partnership working. With this regard, the outcomes of the programme concerning partnership working will be associated with an efficient relationship with clear evidence that ensures to enhance quality in the operational process. Second, an effective partnership emphasises to achieve positive outcomes by executing mutual understanding and collaborative approach that further ensures to accomplish shared interests among the partners (Secretary of State for Health, 2012). In relation to identify the policies of effective partnership, it has been viewed that it comprises a holistic framework that intends to build effective guidelines to ensure positive outcomes. However, with the examination of the guidelines which are promoted to conduct partnership programme concerning health and social care, it can be observed that the policy documents significantly consider certain stated benefits in a comprehensive structure. According to the Health and Social Care Act of 2001, it can be observed that the policy intended to strengthen the significance of partnership working through delivering effectual services within the health and social care. The policy incorporated major initiatives that were designed to reduce inadequate process while working in a partnership programme (Petch & et. al., 2005). In the similar context, while effective communication is highly required for any partnership programme, it also possesses a number of methods and strategies which ensure a good relationship within the workforce is built. Therefore, the major approaches and strategies of effective communication for health and social care partnership incorporate the following considerations: Building a shared and understandable communication technique which is agreed upon by all practitioners; Generating effective policy documents which reflect disciplinary jargons and are understandable by all members; Scheduling time for the members to meet together for discussing formal or informal discussion relating to improve the service; Establishing consistent assessment process which enables the practitioners to meet their needs; Establishing an effective communication system for sharing or accumulating ideas and information along with ensuring that confidential information is properly stored; Conducting valuable training and development conferences which enable the practitioners to learn more skills. Source: (Fitzgerald & Kay, 2008). Characteristics of Effective Partnership Working Effective partnership approach significantly involves the groups or agencies working in a cooperative way in order to obtain substantial benefits. The process of partnership working within the background of healthcare institutions has an aim to perform in a sustainable progression through ensuring adequate understanding and approval from each member within the partnership programme (Crown, 2009b). An effective partnership approach considerably involves effective leadership which have clear observation regarding the equal distribution of tasks and facilities to each members of the group (Crown, 2012a). In order to conduct an efficient as well as an appropriate partnership programme, it is quite crucial for the members or groups to possess certain skills, capabilities and competencies concerning different processes of the programme. The skills required for effective partnership working can be characterised into various types where all the aspects play crucial role to achieve significant benefits from the process. The major types of skills relating to the effective partnership working involves interpersonal skills, strategic skills, collective skills, political and management skills as well as communication and listening skills (Department of Health, 2010d). Interpersonal Skills The interpersonal skill within partnership working facilitates the building of a prolific as well as effective working group, and it also provide substantial benefits through involving required application and negotiation skills (Williams & Sullivan, 2007). In the context of enhancing the level of interpersonal skills of the partners and other associated members, effective communication plays a major role for the overall partnership programme. The communication process involves major elements which help enhance the interpersonal skills of each individual associated with the partnership programme. The interpersonal skill in the partnership programme is further associated with effective exchanging of communication among the practitioners and the users. From the perspective of performing partnership programme in health and social care, the exchange of effective communication among the service providers and users can be characterised into four major categories: Balanced Exchange: The communication process in a balanced exchange that presupposes the procedure in which a conciliation approach is applied among the service providers and the users. Reflected Exchange: The reflected exchange type of communication process does not involve any interaction between the service users and carers, and it only incorporates advice and support for each other Reversal Exchange: In this types of exchange process, the service users attempt to provide support to the caregivers. Unsustainable Exchange: The unsustainable exchange process often creates challenges among the users and service providers, and it occurs when the service users seek more support than the caregivers are able to provide. Source: (Fitzgerald & Kay, 2008) Strategic Skills The strategic skills in the partnership working involve systematic thinking and decision-making capability to address the issues or challenges faced by the health and social care institutions. Moreover, it also helps recognise strategic leverage factors, managing conflicts and issues, defining outcomes as well as access the interest of the stakeholders. With this concern, effective communication process plays a crucial role in terms of addressing and resolving disputes or any conflict between the members of the partnership programme (Williams & Sullivan, 2007). Collective Skills The collective skills in the partnership working also provide crucial effort in terms of recognising and understanding the resources and knowledge of the groups or networks (Williams & Sullivan, 2007). Political and Management Skills Political and management skills in the partnership working play an imperative part in resolving different issues and conflicts within the process of partnership working. These skills involve effective bargaining, negotiating as well as consensus building initiatives that possess effective practice of addressing different obstacles among the procedures, groups or networks (Williams & Sullivan, 2007). Communication and Listening Skills Finally, the communication and listening skills also play a dominant part in partnership working. An effective communication and listening skill significantly ensures that effective coordination and collaboration among the individuals groups or networks that are much vital to achieve desired outcomes are generated (Department for Education, 2001). The aforementioned skills provide significant benefits for health and social care service which also possess substantial leverage on professional accountability. The required skills for professional accountability can be considered as major elements for the accomplishment of expected outcomes in both individual and organisational level. Moreover, the set of required skills for partnership working further helps ensure excellent performance of an organisation through effective decision-making, problem handling as well as managing groups or networks to achieve desired objectives (Department Of Health, 2006b). Managing Risk and Partnership Working in Practice: A Case Study Risk can be considered as one of the common issues faced by the organisations in terms of performing an effectual partnership working process. Therefore, an effective practice of risk management approach is a pervasive process needed to mitigate different types of possible risks within the overall processes of the services. The risk management approach is one of the imperative processes which comprise different activities to address dissimilar types of research within partnership working. With this concern, the following discussion will provide the significance of risk management approach concerning both individual and organisational levels. Moreover, an effective form of communication process among the members associated with the partnership programme is further considered as an imperative tool for managing different types of risks (Norfolk County Council, n.d.). The risk management approach is one of the major and important factors that significantly offer substantial benefits in the partnership working at individual level. The individual level within the partnership working may involve the individuals from different environment who could also possess certain risks in order to perform within the shared interests. Therefore, it can be recognised that different types of risks related to communication, behaviour as well as process can significantly affect the partnership programme at large. Hence, in order to recognise partnership working risks at the individual level, building familiar understanding between the members is important. Moreover, identification of barriers which may affect the performance of partners is also important to manage risks within the working partnership (Department of Health, 2010e). In this context, an example of one of the crucial areas of healthcare, i.e. mental health, can be illustrated. For treating patients affected by mental ailments, establishment of effective communication between the service users (i.e. the patients) and the service providers (i.e. healthcare practitioners) is imperative. It can help substantially reduce the prevailing barriers which can certainly enable the provision of suitable treatments to the patients. As it is recognised that patients affected by mental ailments at times are not able to communicate their difficulties properly, the medical practitioners need to attempt to establish proper communication with the patients with due care towards their situation (West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, n.d.). From the perspective of organisational level, managing risk is fundamentally regarded as an important aspect that guarantees the incorporation of a wider approach in terms of handling different types of risks in the partnership working. Partnership working among the organisations involves broad assortment of activities that are performed by different individuals, groups or networks. Therefore, the approach of risk management at the organisational level considers various processes such as executing effective and high level risk assessment, conducting risk management audit programmes, undertaking risk management process for individual partnership, providing adequate training programmes as well as effective communication among the groups. Therefore, these activities can provide sufficient support for the organisations or agencies in terms of performing health and social activities under partnership working (Norfolk County Council, n.d.). Professional Boundaries in Partnership Working The professional relationship can be considered as a beneficial one that focuses on meeting the required health and care services of an individual. The members of the organisations must need to maintain adequate professional boundaries in order to ensure that the communication of the partnership working is not misinterpreted to the targeted consumers. In relation to the professional boundaries in the health and social care institutions, the approach considerably involves practicing a familiar relationship with each client within the health and social care institutions. Moreover, the professional boundaries also ensure to preserve adequate service and care with each individual to build a long-term relationship between the clients and the organisation. It can be stated that there exist certain differences between partnership and partnership working. In this similar context, the idea of partnership signifies the mode of working jointly with a clear as well as understandable communication process with internal and external members associated with the partnership programme (Park Royal College, 2012). The Process to Change Impact on Partnership Working Across Boundaries The notion of partnership working consists of various beneficial policies that are intended to build effective association amid the groups or agencies. The Integrated Care Network (ICN) is viewed to be one of the major and beneficial practices of partnership working concerning organisational change in members and services. The integrated service in partnership working significantly helps develop the quality, and it also ensures that effective relationship amid the members and the clients of an organisation is built. Moreover, it also helps strengthen the existing communication level of the partnership programme further, which provides effective support for the members included in the programme (Williams & Sullivan, 2007). Power and Leadership within Partnership Working The power and leadership can be considered as one of the major aspects of partnership working that considerably focuses upon developing the overall performances of the programme. The leadership model for partnership working involves collaborative approach which comprises various leadership skills to execute the organisational activities successfully. The leadership approach in relation towards understanding and recognising the economic, social, political as well as technological aspects is extensively playing a crucial part in making effective decisions or handling different issues related to partnership working. It is also an imperative factor for the leaders to focus on maintaining effective communication among the members. An effective communication process involves major aspects that enhance the level of addressing conflict, decision making as well as motivating the members within the process. Moreover, personal leadership, team leadership, organisational as well as ethical leadership aspects also provide effective support in partnership working to achieve expected outcomes (Williams & Sullivan, 2007). Are Service’s Users Partners? The service users in the partnership working can be considered as major supportive partners as they obtain numerous significant benefits from the programmes relating to partnership working from health and social care institutions. Moreover, the service users also possess certain roles in enhancing the quality of the services by maintaining the guidelines that are framed by health and social care institutions. In addition, the involvement of service users can also facilitate the institutions through providing adequate resource, funds as well as community based support to offer quality and value based services. Teamwork and Group Work The challenges of working in inter professional teams can be identified in different aspects while conducting various programmes relating to partnership working. The challenges concerning individual professional identity; inadequate capabilities concerning tasks as well as ineffective communication process among the members or groups are some of the major constraints that can affect the partnership working process by a greater extent. However, effective communication can also enhance substantial strength of the team or group through ensuring clear depiction of the tasks as well as skills and techniques to develop the performance of each individual or group (Tope & Thomas, 2007). Conclusion Effective communication is an integral part of partnership working. It enables the success of partnership program in health along with social care services. Partnership working can be identified as an influential tool that deals with various complex policies as well as operational difficulties that are faced by various organisations in different circumstances. Moreover, the idea of partnership working can further be stated as a productive way of increasing inadequate resources for implementation. In relation to health and social service sector, partnership working has gained immense importance in this present day context. Moreover, an effective partnership working enables the health and social care institutions to effectively utilise the available resources as well as time for the motive of accomplishing administration and operational objectives. The major characteristics of effective partnership working can be identified in terms of recognising various organisational cultures and the skills possessed by every individual, agency or group. The partnership approach in the organisational process plays a major role in order to build effective relation and understanding among the different individuals or groups belonging to diverse cultures. According to the above discussion of the partnership programme, it has been identified that an effective communication is also a major and considerable aspect which can provide adequate support in order to accomplish the interests of both the partners. References Audit Commission, No Date. A Fruitful Partnership. Why Work in Partnership? [Online] Available at: [Accessed December 27, 2012]. Branfield, F. & Beresford, P., 2006. Making User Involvement Work: Supporting Service User Networking and Knowledge. Publications. [Online] Available at: [Accessed December 27, 2012]. Crown, 2012a. Health and Social Care Act 2012. Part 3. [Online] Available at: [Accessed December 27, 2012]. Crown, 2009b. Support for People with Long-Term Conditions (Chronic Disease Management). Annual Report. 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