Day 47: Integration

The Government published its White Paper on Integration this week.  This intends to ensure that local needs are met in collaboration and decisions are made collectively by partners as close citizens’ needs as possible.  This requires significant co-operation and equal partnerships for those involved.

I sincerely hope that providers in social care are recognised as equally as our healthcare colleagues within and outside the NHS.  The White Paper refers to ALL partners being involved and achieving digital maturity, but omits to describe in any sensible detail how the workforce challenge will be met and the significant vacancies and skill-deficit filled.

Day 40: Partnerships For Mutual Benefit

What is a partnership? To me, this means that all ‘partners’ get something mutually beneficial out of the arrangement.  However, formal, or informal this relationship, to be called a partnership, the benefit to all must be equal or equitable.

It two parties are to enter a partnership, honesty and transparency at the outset are critical about what each wants to get.  There will inevitably have to be compromise as it is extremely rare for everyone to get everything that they want.

Successful partnerships regularly review whether partners are continuing to get what they want in an equitable way from it.