Working in Partnership in Social Care

As a whole, literature on the topic of mental illness in our country and specifically in our criminal justice system had a reoccurring theme. There are millions of individuals who suffer from mental illness but are improperly being handled through the criminal justice system. These individuals are deemed criminal just by their acts and their mental health state is not overly examine. Jails and prisons are being overcrowded. State prisons and jails are overpopulated anywhere from 15 to 32% (Spending Money in All the Wrong Places: Jails & Prisons).

Recognising that working with people is a partnership rather than a relationship controlled by professionals

To improve partnership working we all have to focus on the purpose of our job role which is to provide best care and support to improve individual’s life, health and wellbeing. Standard ways to maintain good partnership working are as follows-

The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 states that wherever possible services should be provided in the community or in the home as a large amount of money was being spent on residential and care homes for the elderly. The Local authorities must carry out an assessment of needs and must arrange for the care or provision. Also the local authorities were encouraged to purchase care from a mixed economy, including statutory, private and voluntary sectors to encourage competition and increase choice. (Classroom notes, 2014) / (Patient, 2015)

Others people may be able to provide useful information to support you in your work and you may be able to provide useful information to support them in being part of the individual’s lives. This is good partnership working. If there are communication difficulties with service users a carer or family member can share information with you about how you can best communicate with an individual.

These factors reduce the risk of abuse when multi-agency working as the legal framework ensures all staff and care professionals involved in providing care protect and safeguard their patients, it also ensures all professionals deliver high-quality care. These guarantees the quality of care provided is effective, safe and assures the patient has had a positive experience.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital is funded by the government. It is a public/statutory type of care.

A partnership is an arrangement between two or more groups, organizations or individuals to work together

It’s important so that care homes or environments are run in accordance with legislations. So staff adhere to agreed standards and regulations at all times. It also means that service users will not be put at any risk.

The Health and Social Care Act. (2012), is to bring the NHS to the 21st century to meet the challenge facing it and safeguarding its future. Help professionals at the centre of commissioning.

According to a 2006 Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that over half of the inmates in both prisons and in jails had a problem concerning their mental health (James & Glaze, 2006). The estimates in this report were separated by federal prisons, which contained 45 percent of inmates suffering from mental illness, 56 percent in state prisons, and

Exemplification Failures Harold Shipman inquiry Look in newspaper archives – national and local for examples Sources of Information Local authority Adult Services Dept (Social Services) Manager Policies and Procedures Internet Books Care Quality Commission Independent Safeguarding Authority

Partnership is when two or more organisations work together, showing cooperation and collaboration. This can provide better care and support for service users. For example, different funds working together, instead of working individually and stressing. Another example, a social worker and the health visitor will need to work together, share ideas and use different skills to develop a support plan that will benefit children and families. This also promotes multi-disciplinary working. Partnership thus can reduce conflicts and enhance team working skills as professionals can work together, sharing responsibilities and ensuring need led approaches are met and set. This can be done by reviewing care plans and offering support.

The funding mechanisms for social care services enable service user’s access to a range of services to support themselves in their own homes, institutional care and hospitals. In terms of finances a legislative framework was introduced, resources were transferred from the National Health Service and the Department of Social Security to local authorities, and social work departments were given a key role in the planning, assessment and commissioning of community care services.

Department of Health (DH) (2001). National Service Framework for Older People. London: Department of Health.