The document discusses the importance of developing partnerships and linkages between organizations to better serve clients. It notes that partnerships can provide access to funding, help develop programs, and improve discharge planning and integrated care. The document outlines that successful partnerships are built on open communication, developing relationships over time, and addressing challenges through flexibility. It emphasizes finding the right personnel to communicate with and listening to each other to further the partnership.

1. PARTNERSHIPS & LINKAGES

3. Why“...find ways of working together that will have positive outcomes for the clients....”Develop better linksAccess fundingDevelop & deliver programsGood discharge planningIntegrated careClear communication, dispute resolution Keen on collaborative work

4. How“.....everyone involved has an interest in making it work...”Initial visit face to faceDeveloped relationship over considerable length of timeTransparent open communicationInvite to reference group meetings

5. PositivesGood linkages maintainedStaff gain experience in different work environments. Raises staff knowledge base and skill level in comorbidityMOU help with conflict resolution.

6. ChallengesHigh Staff turnoverBusy schedules and workloadsVarying timelines of those involvedEstablishing the key personnel

7. ChallengesPersonality 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.

8. ChallengesMOU 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.

9. 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....”

10. 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....”

11. 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.....”