Managing across Professional and Agency Boundaries

In order to provide an holistic and seamless service most Managers will already be working with a range of professionals from different organisations and agencies to plan and deliver social care and support. The quality of the service provided will depend to a large extent on the effectiveness of these working relationships. It is essential that no party feels incompetent, invisible or unnecessary within this partnership approach and that all are aware of their own role in making the relationship and service work.

This one day course designed for Managers aims to enhance their knowledge and skills in this area.

Learning objectives:

By applying the concepts and strategies explored in this session participants should be able to:


• Understand what is the multi-disciplinary team
• Reflect on their own experience of managing in a multi-professional environment
• Understand the benefits of effective management across multi-professional boundaries
• Understand the potential consequences if effective working relationship are not successful
• Understand the importance of establishing clearly defined Service Level Agreements
• Understand the need to clarify rights and responsibilities
• Define what effective partnership working requires
• Identify and explain the barriers that often need to be confronted
• Understand why these barriers commonly occur
• Understand how to approach working though these barriers
• Explore strategies for enhancing interrelated professionalism of Managers involved
• Know how to make meetings work
• Understand the importance of good communication skills
• Understand the value of Active Listening
• Understand the power of non verbal behaviour
• Understand how we might demonstrate aggressive/passive aggressive and assertive styles and how to avoid doing this
• Understand how to deal with this on the part of others
• Understand how to approach problem solving
• Understand how to approach conflict resolution
• Discuss leadership styles and approaches likely to enhance cross-agency working

Training methods:

• Group Learning Contract, Warm Ups and Ice Breakers to help people relax, to encourage group identity and
  engage with the material in a positive way.
• Group work will encourage participants to be an active part of the learning experience as well as provide shared
  ideas and information.
• The use of smaller group work will insure that all participate and provide an opportunity for those who find discussion
  in the larger group difficult.
• Tutor Presentations will provide information and ideas to take forward as well as facilitate exploration within the
  group. Likewise these will provide visual elements to the day by way of OHP or Power Point.
• Chalk and Talk method will maximise learner participation and involvement.
• Word Shower method will be used to stimulate thought and the sharing of ideas.
• Feedback will be used so as to ensure that work done in smaller groups is shared.
• Round Robin method will be employed so as to ensure that all involved have an opportunity to contribute.

CP31/4.9