Working together allows providers to engage with & appropriately support service users in better ways.
This can be done by collaborating in trusted places in the community to address issues & service gaps. Doing this can reduce competition between providers.
Providers networked & shared information to identify service gaps in what was available to support service users locally, & find ways to address the gaps.
When providers can meet together, they can better support their community.
“it’s so important as a Community Connecter to build good relationships with the groups we work with, to always be out & about, speaking to these groups, maybe attending the groups & just building good relationships with the ones who run it.” – Signposter
Providers can engage better with service users when they make use of trusted places in the community (e.g shopping centres, supermarkets or pharmacies).
Providers who share responsibility in delivering support for service users have less competition between services.
“we also help get some projects off the ground if we identify gaps. That’s probably one of our main things is looking at the community & seeing what our service users need, & what’s not necessarily there. And if we can, try to help organisations be able to deliver it. So, my colleague recently got a PTSD support group set up with [Linked provider] & that’s been brilliant. So it’s like things like that are great because we can see things happening in real time as to when we see an issue & then hopefully we can find funding” – Signposter
What to Consider
Collaboration between services is important as it allows people to work together, share responsibility & help each other. This can improve service delivery & support service user outcomes. Consider these strategies:
Providers work together to strengthen community links & develop service (+)
What to do
Involve community in developing service. Build & strengthen good working relationships to collaborate effectively & support services.
How to do it
Create strong relationships between providers to address service gaps through support & training, obtain funding & keep service going.
What changes
Service includes everyone
Service meets people’s needs
Service can be kept going
Sharing workspaces & systems for referrals helps providers to respond quickly (+)
What to do
Set up shared working spaces & use existing referral systems to embed the service with partners.
How to do it
Communicate together in shared spaces & create a more helpful referral process with other providers.
What changes
Shorter waits for service
Can be delivered in practice
Signposters regularly promote service & are aware of community resources (+)
What to do
Maintain provider relationships to have a shared vision of community support. Encourage people to access service by promoting & delivering it in public spaces. Keep community resources database up to date.
How to do it
Make notes of available activities/ opportunities, & share knowledge with the community. Partner with trusted community spaces to connect with people, promote & deliver the service Strengthen community awareness through marketing & volunteers.
What changes
Service includes everyone & meets people’s needs.
Can be delivered in practice.
Service can be kept going.
Service user-focused.
Staff & volunteers with lived experience help to keep them in the workforce & support better service user outcomes (+)
What to do
Employ staff who have lived experience, offer appropriate role development & put in place volunteer roles in the service. Provide full support to service users by working together.
How to do it
Recruit people who have lived experience for staff roles & volunteers from the community/ previous service users. Work together to solve support issues for service users.
What changes
Service includes everyone & meets people’s needs.
Shorter waits for service.
Service can be kept going.
Service user-focused.