Suchergebnisse

AbstractA key element in the All‐Wales Strategy (AWS) for Services for Mentally Handicapped People is the collaboration of statutory agencies involved in planning and managing mental handicap services. This paper discusses the experience over the first three years in one county. The inter‐agency county strategic planning group exhibited a high level of consensus reflecting its structure, group processes and the issues discussed. Controversial matters were rarely raised. Further weaknesses were the low input from the Education Department and the poor communication outside the group. This consensus image is contrasted with the considerable conflict in the inter‐agency county operational management group, the failure of which reflected the different management structure and style of the health and local authority, weaknesses in the management structure for AWS developments, and a failure to resolve some crucial issues in the early stages of the strategy. The lessons learnt from these experiences and the necessary ingredients for effective collaboration are explored — a framework for collaboration, including a clear definition of function, authority and the interrelationship of the various parts and a formal system of communication, commitment from those participating and the authority of participants to implement collaborative decisions.