What do we mean by collaboration?
‘Collaboration’ simply means ‘working together’ but a multitude of definitions and models have developed in recent years. The terms networking, co-operation, co-ordination and partnership are sometimes used to mean collaboration which can cause confusion.
Agencies should work in collaboration when:
- they have a common interest in specific areas, client groups, communities, families or individuals
- there is a serious problem with complex causes that cannot be resolved by any one agency
- several agencies providing services to a particular group want to improve service quality and access by working together.
Collaboration arrangements involve staff at different levels in the agencies, for example, managers allocating resources and developing accountability arrangements, and frontline staff providing services.
For HCN funding, collaboration means:
- The range of activities involved in agencies working together – including cooperation, coordination and interagency collaboration.
- The expectation related to HCN funded services is that the agencies involved with a particular child or young person will:
- make a formal commitment to a joint process
- agree on lead agency and accountability arrangements
- jointly develop and agree on a plan that focuses on the outcomes for the child or young person and their family
- move beyond the paradigms of the agencies and professions involved to form a shared view of the issues and the desired outcomes for the child or young person
- be willing to be flexible and do things differently
- contribute resources (staff time, services, admin support, funding) to deliver the common plan — and
- the results will be greater than the sum of the parts.
Collaboration is not:
- agencies simply sharing information about common clients
- agencies working to clarify boundary issues
- consultation.