As part of the seven workshop sessions held with provider and officer groups, people were also invited to identify those issues they thought were inhibiting positive relationships the most. This naturally yielded a lot of material for analysis and proved particularly effective in starting to draw out what the key 'sticking points' were between providers and ECC.

From the analysis a number of distinct themes arose - see Figure 6 and Appendix D. These were separated out to highlight the differences but also show the similarities between what providers and officers were thinking and feeling. 

By consensus, it was agreed that each of the statements had an element of truth but were probably based upon only a partial awareness of each other's worlds and past experiences. Putting aside the extent to which any of these statements are actually true or not, collectively they seem to suggest the following:

• Providers overall feel ECC has a pretty negative view of them and they certainly don't feel part of the care system as whole; and
• ECC officers, whilst overall holding a less consistent view of providers, seem to have two dominant perceptions. Firstly, differing views about the type of relationship ECC needs/wants with providers. Secondly, there is a significant level of mistrust about providers based on perceptions about money, quality and business acumen.