The theories and practice of inter-agency working across the public sector : A critical overview of implementing collaboration within social services in Wales

Collaboration has been a central feature of Welsh Government policy in respect of delivering effective public services for over a decade yet continues to be difficult to achieve in a meaningful way across sectors, organisations and boundaries. The report of the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery in Wales (2014) reinforced the importance of pursuing collaborative initiatives and offered proposals for approaching collaboration more consistently and effectively. This thesis adds new knowledge to understanding the complexities of collaboration through a critical overview of three research outputs relating to collaboration in social services in Welsh local authorities. By reviewing the literature on collaborative theory and practice and applying it to the research outputs which constitute the portfolio, a conclusion is reached that collaboration will remain an elusive objective unless action is taken to improve its chances of successful implementation. A new strategy is proposed for obtaining the necessary increase in the scale and pace of collaboration to justify its position as a continuing part of Welsh Government policy.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctoral Thesis

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Student thesis

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Garthwaite, Tony

• Collaboration
• Social Services
• Wales
• Welsh Government policy
• Public Sector

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/83faa731-bc8f-4d90-b97b-c73c9889fcc4

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/83faa731-bc8f-4d90-b97b-c73c9889fcc4