Collaborative practice : a practice approach to joint working between agencies providing mental health services : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Massey University

Abstract

Collaborative Practice: A practice approach to joint working between agencies providing mental health services This project was undertaken to explore principles important to good collaborative practice and to identify practice guidelines. It explores the "how to do" collaborative practice successfully. The project did not set out to provide solutions to specific situations. It did set out to explore a process which could provide a culture for the collaborative addressing of issues. The proposed approach involved working interactively with key people, trialling a model of collaboration which used the clinical practice of case management and applying this to work between agencies. Through this participative trial key components of collaboration were identified and incorporated into a proposal for future practice. The project methodology used action research.