PARTNERSHIPS & LINKAGES

Why

“...find ways of working together that will have positive outcomes for the clients....”

Develop better links

Access funding

Develop & deliver programs

Good discharge planning

Integrated care

Clear communication, dispute resolution

Keen on collaborative work

How

“.....everyone involved has an interest in making it

work...”

Initial visit face to face

Developed relationship over considerable length

of time

Transparent open communication

Invite to reference group meetings

Positives

Good linkages maintained

Staff gain experience in different work

environments.

Raises staff knowledge base and skill level in

comorbidity

MOU help with conflict resolution.

Challenges

High Staff turnover

Busy schedules and workloads

Varying timelines of those involved

Establishing the key personnel

Challenges

Personality issues can be overcome by a greater

understanding of each others expectations.

Challenges looked at openly can be overcome

with open communication.

Developing and signing a MOU can take a long

time, this can be hard to achieve in a short time

frame.

Challenges

MOU can have a top down approach, whereas

the linkage is at the grass roots level.

Awareness of timelines and work issues helps set

realistic timeframes which is one way of

overcoming challenges.

Flexibility is a way of overcoming most

challenges.

Key Tips

“....Try to establish who the key personnel are.

This is not always easy, but arrangements are

always easier to make when speaking to the right

person and much time can be saved....”

“....Be prepared to listen to each other to progress

the partnership....”

“.... Work with what you know you can work

with....”

Key Tips

“... Joining people up that have common

momentum, brings a lot more weight.....”

“.... Client outcome is the focus....”

“...Creating relationships in the beginning is

huge, it should not be underestimated....”

Key Tips

“....Focus on fewer partnerships initially to enable

you to spend time developing these partnerships

to a deeper level...”

“... Recognising the partnership is a „two-way‟

street and it „cuts both ways‟ is important for

success....”

“.... Almost anything can be accomplished as long

as no-one cares who get the credit.....”