Purpose
The purpose of this document is to invite comments on the outcomes of the relationship management project undertaken by Essex County Council (ECC) between June and October 2016. This summarises a range of recommendations for improving relationships between care providers and ECC. It highlights some initial actions that both parties have already agreed to undertake in the next few months, as well as proposing other possible ways forward.
The document has been agreed with those providers that volunteered to participate in this project and senior ECC officers. See Appendix A.
The document invites comments on the ideas and proposals set out below on the basis that:
- The relationships between ECC and some providers has become increasingly strained over a number of years and both sides have recognised the need to rebuild trust and establish greater openness when working to meet the current challenges facing the care sector;
- Improved relationships need to focus more on helping service users achieve their outcomes, not on the needs of ECC or individual providers;
- Providing high quality care will only be possible through integrated solutions and joined up partnership working and this can only be achieved through building more positive and constructive relationships; and
- Improving relationships will take time, commitment and resources, and will need to occur incrementally as both sides build their capacity to work more effectively in partnership.