assesses learning outcomes 1,2 and 3

The case study will focus on the collaborative management of a complex case or project drawn from the student's practice. The case study should discuss:
- a brief outline of the main issues presented by the case
- the benefits and challenges presented by contemporary health and social care policy and their influence on the case
- students contribution to partnership working, including an evidenced rationale for decisions they took in management of the case
- any areas where personal improvement is required
- the influence that partnership/collaborative working had/is having on the outcomes for service users and carers, identifying any areas for improvement.

Formative assessment:
Formative feedback will be provided to case reflection and presentation during action learning sets. Additional support will be provided in tutorials.

The aim of this module is to enable students working with adults in a variety of social and health care contexts to critically analyse their approaches to collaborative working in complex case management. The module will explore recent trends within health and social care policy that have led to a greater focus on interagency collaboration and the development of practice which empowers service users and carers. It will consider the theory, processes, opportunities and barriers to effective collaborative working. The module will review the change to the development of partnership working and commissioning arrangements with the wider health and social care economy, including the role of other sectors of local government, the health services, the voluntary and private sectors, as well as the role of service user led organisations. Students will explore the expertise and experience of the service user and their carer in addition to different professional perspectives and to critically evaluate the impact which those perspectives have on the promotion of person- centred practice. There will be opportunity to debate whether the changing focus of social care and the growing emphasis on collaborative practice (whether with service users and carers or other disciplines) has the potential to support effective practice in complex situations. Problems for inter professional relationships associated with different bureaucratic and managerial structures and arrangements for joint strategy and service planning will also be explored. Students will be facilitated to draw on practice experiences to critique the interface between agency policy, practice and procedures in relation to collaborative working, the expertise of service users and carers and the role of other services in direct provision to adults supported within the student's practice context.

Teacher/Student Contact Hours 30 hours
The emphasis within this module is to develop understanding of the policy and theoretical context and thereafter create the links between theories to practice. Therefore 60% of contact will be through interactive lectures, seminars and small group work. However in order to facilitate interprofessional learning and integrate knowledge and skills with the learners practice, students will also be introduced to action learning (30%). Learners will be allocated to sets of between 5-8 members, and will need to select a case or project that they have reflected upon and present it for discussion within the set. Group and individual tutorial support will also be provided (10%)

Independent Learning: 120 hours
Independent learning time will be utilised to firstly undertake directed reading to gain the breadth and depth of knowledge gain maximum benefit from participation in lectures and seminars (20%), subsequently independent study required time will also be used to prepare material for use in the action learning set (20%). In addition to the exploration of related literature, independent learning time will be spent in preparation for the module assessment (50%). Practitioners can independently access resources and support for their learning using Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) (10%).

Audio visual aids and equipment: laptop PC and data projector, OHP and flipchart, television monitor and DVD or video player.
Appropriate rooms for small group work
Peer group within action learning set
Module and personal tutor.
PC with internet access, access to Blackboard VLE

Department of Health (2005) Independence, Wellbeing and Choice. London, HMSO
Glasby, J. & Littlechild, R. (2004) The Health and Social Care Divide, 2nd Edition. Bristol, Policy Press. ISBN 1861345259
Hafford-Letchfield, T. (2006) Management and Organisations in Social Work. Exeter. Learning Matters. ISBN 978 1844450442
Martin, V. and Henderson, E. (2001) Managing in Health and Social Care. London, Routledge/Open University Press
Quinney, A. (2006) Collaborative Social Work Practice. Exeter. Learning Matters. ISBN 978 1844450145

Must be currently working with adults in a relevant context.