Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andrew Storey on June 1, 2010 at 12:56

Sounds good.

I looked at multi-agency working when I did my MBA so it'll be good to see where things are at within this particular setting.

Permalink Reply by Esther Ridsdale on June 9, 2010 at 12:34

Hi
I'd be interested on any books, articles, websites or other resources etc on multi-agency working that you came across when doing your MBA or since that you found useful on the subject of collaboration and multi-agency working. - ?
Anyone else have any recommendations?
Esther

Permalink Reply by Andrew Storey on June 9, 2010 at 13:09

Hi Esther

I'll have a look through my stuff and send you some stuff. There is so much available it's all about sorting out the wood from the chaff!

Permalink Reply by Andrew Storey on June 7, 2010 at 15:04

The key, in my experience, is the quality of the relationships involved and setting up systems and structures to ensure the way organisations work together facilitate the inter-organisational relationships; in terms of why the organisations work together ('motivation'), what this relationship means to the different parties (definition of 'partnership') and how the value of the collaboration is maximised ('terms of engagement').

Permalink Reply by Somanah Achadoo on June 9, 2010 at 12:20

A signed agreement between partners usually works and this will define the relationships more clearly. However, we have seen at times, that small organisations are not equipped to work with larger organisations.

Permalink Reply by Somanah Achadoo on June 9, 2010 at 12:19

Nigel:

Thanks for this message. It was very interesting and you've made it so simple. The examples given were very good.

Our organisation has been promoting the 'consortia/partnership' working and also working collaboratively. We have put a lot of training/workshops and one to one support for staff working in small voluntary and community sector groups through using various models.

You were spot on about funders now looking for organisations working collaboratively, in partnership or even bringing a consortium to take on large contracts. Funders are cutting their administrative costs and therefore by giving out a large contracts to a consortium or organisation working collaboratively or in partnership, they are doing their efficiency savings.

Organisations need a lot of resources to be able to adapt to this change. They need legal advice and some of them are not keen to work collaboratively. The models make not work for some small organisations. The issue here is now to break the barriers for these organisations?

We have been working with a lot of organisations to make them fit to work collaboratively, in partnership or be part of a consortium. This has been done through either training/workshops facilitation or one to one support or through our coaching and mentoring.

Regards,

Somanah

www.vac.org.uk

Permalink Reply by Nigel Newton Sawyerr on June 9, 2010 at 13:46

Hello Somanah,
Its good to hear your experience. You are absolutely right about the need for advice (including legal advice), which can of course be expensive.
In terms of the barriers, the sector has become quite a scary place for many, particularly newer and very small organisations, which are getting very squeezed in many ways. The commissioning policies, aggregated contracts, the restrictions on what can be funded and the generally reducing funding pots are just some opf them,.
I will be in touch with you as it would be good to hear more of how organisations are collaborating in Camden and whether we can support you in further ways. I'd be very interested to hear how your coaching and mentoring is working.
Cheers
Nigel

Permalink Reply by Somanah Achadoo on June 9, 2010 at 13:50

Nigel:

Get in touch via email if you need to, sachadoo@vac.org.uk.

We have been working across the London region, Windsor, Bracknell, etc, in getting organisations to work collaboratively, in partnership or setting up a consortium. Resistance are varied among the organisations we have been working with for example, one of the reasons could be their constitution itself and other reasons are they are not interested as the funding is from the Big Lottery, etc. I can explain more on this.

Regards,

Somanah

Permalink Reply by Nigel Newton Sawyerr on June 9, 2010 at 13:52

Cheers, will do :-)

Permalink Reply by William Wong on June 9, 2010 at 12:23

Watching a ten-minute video in this context requires huge concentration. It is not the same as listening to a speaker live within an auditorium. Some form of visual aid, perhaps through a split screen if possible, may help those of us who are not principally auditory-inclined.

Permalink Reply by Foster Evans on June 9, 2010 at 12:35

Agreed, some of the best websites now use a combination of visuals and voice to impart information. However in the time concerned I think Luoise and the team have done very well.

Permalink Reply by Foster Evans on June 9, 2010 at 12:34

Nigel, very good clear explanation of what sounds like a very useful service which could be easily replicated in Scotland in a number of sectors, including social housing. Your success factors all ring true but is there not also a need for a good match of cultures between organisations for them to effectively work closely together? foster

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