Making partnerships work
Ron Ashton, Director of Neighbourhood Services, Angus Council
Sylvia Johnston, Delayed Discharge Manager, NHS Board
The presence of Ron Ashton and Sylvia Johnston at the session illustrated a striking move towards improving the working relationship and cooperation between health and housing professionals
Ron Ashton began the session by highlighting the key skills and resources required to achieve successful partnerships. Ron demonstrated partnership working based on trust, mutual understanding and confidence between partners can reduce bureaucracy and lead to innovative service improvements.
He demonstrated that the links between partners must be understood, defined and customer centred. He also said that the purpose of the partnership must be defined and monitored for the partnership to work. The partnership arrangements in Letham, Tayside provided an excellent illustration of challenges and successes in delivering partnership on the ground.
Sylvia Johnston provided information on the Audit Scotland study in Tayside, highlighting the challenges to building an understanding between health and housing professionals. Common barriers include the use of jargon and an unwillingness to share information.
The speakers concluded that partnership working is essential for delivering the key goals of both their organisations and that partnership working had delivered an improved customer focussed service.