Do you work in partnership? Do you have good practice to share?

Genuine partnership recognises the rights and responsibilities of service users to be fully involved in what is happening to them. In the case of young children, good practice requires us to work in partnership with their parents / carers. 

Genuine partnership can operate at two levels -

Firstly, it involves representative service users (and parents) in the design of local services. This can include:

• giving regular informal and formal feedback about the support they are receiving
• helping develop improved services based on key feedback messages. This is done in partnership with managers
• being involved in overseeing how the new service is operating. This can mean sitting on the management committee or board.
• helping design and run fresh surveys of user satisfaction

Secondly, genuine partnership involves the service user (or parent) in designing their particular package of support. This can include:

• full involvement in the assessment of needs
• designing the support package alongside the service provider(s)
• giving regular informal and formal feedback about their support

Please send your views, experience and good practice to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Issue 3 of the TAC Bulletin for Australia & NZ.

News and views from service users will be warmly welcomed.

Peter Limbrick