1. Understand working relationships in health and social care
1.1 Working relationships are contractual relationships between colleagues and employer, colleagues and clients, etc.
Working relationships are formal and professional. By working to a set of rules and procedures for which you're paid, you are accountable and responsible for any mistakes and errors you make. Time limits and boundaries apply and you do not necessarily have to like the people you work with but need to keep personal opinions and feelings to yourself. Mutual respect and understanding is a key factor in developing a good working relationship.
Personal relationship is formed only by the fact that you like that person and choose to have a relationship with them. In a personal relationship they are no sets of rules of procedures to follow, you freely express your feelings and opinions and can discuss anything, in a working relationship there are limits to what you can talk about for confidentiality and security reasons.
1.2 In the health and social care settings there are different working relationships.
Working relationship with parents – might be very difficult as parents have a strong personal relationship with your client and you have to respect that, at the same time your responsibility is towards your client, not their parents, you have to respect client’s wishes and beliefs and support them to do what they want to do, regardless what parents think of it. A good communication and a working relationship with parents is important as it’s beneficial for client’s support but it’s not always achievable because they might be very attached to their child and you might never agree on what is best for the client (or agree with child’s wishes)
Working relationship with social workers – should be based on transparency, empathy and openness on both sides as you both share professional interest the client. The social worker can decide