Partnership working: Policy and practice

Description

Over the past 10 years partnership working has become a central feature of public services. This book analyses experience of partnerships in different policy fields, identifying the theoretical and practical impediments to making partnership work and critically evaluating the advantages and disadvantages for those involved. Its broad coverage goes beyond the confines of statutory partnerships, addressing other important forms of collaboration between voluntary, private and statutory sectors and service users and community and minority groups.Through a wide range of perspectives, "Partnership working" aims to integrate theory and practice across a number of policy areas. Using a variety of models, it: highlights both positive and negative aspects of partnership working at political, cultural and technical levels; shows how partnerships can empower people and groups through effective collaboration; suggests some of the principles on which good practice should be based and the resources required; and addresses key issues of accountability, representation and social exclusion. The book provides important reading for academics, policy makers, service providers and senior practitioners in community development and community safety, local government, housing, social services and health. It should also be a valuable resource for those working in voluntary organisations and students on professional courses.

Susan Balloch is Reader in Health and Social Care in the Health and Social Policy Research Centre (HSPRC) at the University of Brighton. Her research interests include community profiling, partnership working, the health and social care workforce and social inclusion. She is a co-editor of Social services: Working under pressure (The Policy Press, 1999). Previously she worked as Policy Director for the National Institute for Social Work. Marilyn Taylor is Professor of Social Policy at the Health and Social Policy Research Centre, University of Brighton. She has written widely for policy and practice audiences on community development, community involvement in partnerships, user involvement and relationships between government and the voluntary sector.

"Excellent book. I think the multi-professional perspective is a real strength." Robert Banton, School of Health & Human Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University "This book will add richly to the literature on partnerships in public service... should prove useful for both academicians and practitioners." Voluntas "This is an excellent book and should be read by anyoune involved or thinking of getting involved in partnership working ... one of the essential items to cover in making partnerships succeed is reading this book from cover to cover." Journal of Interprofessional Care "... seems to provide a much-needed critical review of widely accepted policies." Trevor Hart, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Urban Development & Environmental Management, Leeds Metropolitan University "... instructive and inspiring." Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning. "... a well-edited, coherent collection of essays that examines some important questions that lie at the heart of attempts to generate a 'third way' in the arena of contemporary urban politics ... recommended reading for both academics and practitioners alike." Urban Studies "This carefully crafted collection unpacks the concept of partnership in a range of policy contexts, exposing its tensions and contradictions and pointing to the centrality of the issue of power in understanding why partnerships do or do not work." Gary Craig, Professor of Social Justice, University of Hull