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Forming and sustaining partnerships to provide integrated services for young people: an overview based on the headspace Geelong experience
Author(s) -
Callaly Tom,
von Treuer Kathryn,
van Hamond Toni,
Windle Kelly
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2010.00237.x
Subject(s) - general partnership , agency (philosophy) , goodwill , business , process management , process (computing) , public relations , principal (computer security) , health care , organizational culture , knowledge management , sociology , political science , computer science , social science , finance , law , operating system
Aim: To discuss critical considerations in the formation and maintenance of agency partnerships designed to provide integrated care for young people. Methods: Two years after its establishment, an evaluation of the headspace Barwon collaboration and a review of the health‐care and management literature on agency collaboration were conducted. The principal findings together with the authors' experience working at establishing and maintaining the partnership are used to discuss critical issues in forming and maintaining inter‐agency partnerships. Results: Structural and process considerations are necessary but not sufficient for the successful formation and maintenance of inter‐agency partnerships and integrated care provision. Specifically, organizational culture change and staff engagement is a significant challenge and planning for this is essential and often neglected. Conclusions: Although agreeing on common goals and objectives is an essential first step in forming partnerships designed to provide integrated care, goodwill is not enough, and the literature consistently shows that most collaborations fail to meet their objectives. Principles and lessons of organizational behaviour and management practices in the business sector can contribute a great deal to partnership planning.