This module has been designed to enable you to explore the issues and problems associated with the development of partnerships within community development work. The issues to be addressed include the definition of partnership, obstacles to effective collaboration and possible solutions to problems. In defining partnership, areas to be explored include multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working, and building formal and informal relations with key groups. In exploring obstacles to effective partnership working we will examine difficulties associated with understanding the roles and objectives of partners, multi-skilling, different professional perspectives on objectives and conflict within partnerships. Case studies of local partnerships will be examined by local experts, including the new Regen Zone in Stoke-on- Trent. Toolkits such as the Smarter Partnerships Toolkit and the Stoke-On-Trent Partnership Toolkit will be explained and evaluated.

Library, where you will find relevant texts, journals, and audio-visual materials.
Internet, where you will find relevant web-sites.

This module incorporates three inter-related learning strategies. The three day-long workshops will be used for the consideration of core issues and key tools relating to Partnership working in Regeneration. The tutorials will allow discussion of the individual critical research students are undertaking to prepare their reports, and support for any study skills needs the tutor and students identify. The independent study will allow reading around selected topics, the development of individual critical responses to the reading and the preparation for the work-based case studies.

A case-study of 2,000 words. The case study will require you to demonstrate the reading of relevant texts and use of other sources in order to explain the definitions of partnerships, the problems of implementation and the policy background to partnership working. Normally the case-study will be a work-based example of multi-agency cooperation.