UBC Press Partnerships in Social Care book Paperback

Partnerships in Social Care is a practical handbook for professionals engaged in planning strategic partnerships in health, social care and education services.

The author proposes that service providers consider five key questions when setting up new partnerships:

* Is this partnership necessary?

* What is its purpose?

* Who is involved?

* Where will it function?

* How will it work?

Fletcher discusses the common problems of building successful partnerships - such as conflicts of interest and allocation of funding and resources - and offers guidance and practical tips on dealing with them. Designed as a quick reference, the book allows readers to find advice relevant to their particular situation or gain an overview of the themes explored.

This accessible and concise professional handbook is highly recommended for practitioners, managers and politicians, as well as all professionals working in, or considering working in partnerships in health, social care, housing, children's services, education, community development, justice and local services.

Keith Fletcher has spent much of the past few years working with `failing' authorities with problems caused by ineffective or non-existent collaboration arrangements. He has helped them to identify strategies and build effective partnerships. He was formerly Deputy Chief Inspector in the Social Services Directorate, Wales, trained as a social worker and his professional background is in government social services. He has previously written several books on children's, health and social services, including Negotiation for Health and Social Services Professionals, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.