Joint Work

This guidance has been written to support any Local Authority practitioner who will be working jointly with:

1. Another Local Authority practitioner; or
2. A practitioner from another organisation (for example health or education).

It sets out:

1. The forms that joint work can take;
2. Some of the benefits of joint work;
3. Some general principles for good joint work.

Broadly speaking joint work can be defined as:

1. A process involving more than one practitioner; where
2. A co-operative approach is taken; to
3. Benefit a person with care and support needs, or a carer with support needs.

Joint work can take many forms, many of which can apply at the same time:

Good joint work has many benefits, some of which are set out in the table below.

Under section 6 of the Care Act:

1. The Local Authority must co-operate generally with relevant partners; and
2. Relevant partners must co-operate with the Local Authority; when
3. That co-operation is required to ensure that care and support functions are carried out; or
4. When carrying out more localised functions relating to other statutory duties and responsibilities.

If a formal request is made in writing for joint work (for example through a referral) the person receiving that request must co-operate with it unless:

1. Doing so will prevent them from carrying out their own duties under the Care Act or any other legislation; or
2. Doing so will prevent them from exercising any of their other functions; in which case
3. They must provide a written explanation of their reasons for declining to the person making the request.

It is important that you are familiar with any local joint working protocols that have been agreed between:

1. Different areas of the Local Authority; and
2. The Local Authority and other organisations.

These will set out:

1. How practitioners in those areas should work together;
2. Any specific arrangements or processes that have been agreed; and
3. The circumstances in which they apply.

The following table sets out:

1. Some of the general principles for good joint work; and
2. Some examples for applying them.

Joint work can only take place if the person consents unless:

1. The person lacks capacity to consent; and
2. A Deputy or Lasting Power of Attorney provides consent in their Best Interests; or
3. Where there is no Deputy or Lasting Power of Attorney, the Local Authority makes a Best Interest decision to this effect.

The only occasion when direct joint work can take place without the consent of the person is when it is taking place as part of a safeguarding enquiry.

In the case of carers, direct joint work can only take place with their consent.

If there are likely to be delays in allocation or commencement of joint work the person who requested the joint work will need to:

1. Consider whether to proceed with their intervention; or
2. Await allocation {{or availability}} of the other practitioner.

It is the responsibility of the person requesting joint work to make this decision {{in agreement with the person and any carer}} and to take steps to ensure that any urgent needs for Care and Support are met.

All recording of joint work should be made in line with local joint working protocols.

If in any doubt about the need for you to make a record you should always make a record.

Joint work can involve working closely with other practitioners and professionals, during which time you will observe aspects of their practice. If you are concerned that any aspect of their practice:

1. Compromises the safety or Wellbeing of a person with care and support needs; or
2. Compromises the safety or Wellbeing of a carer with support needs; or
3. Compromises the safety of a child;
4. You must use the whistleblowing procedure to raise your concern;
5. Regardless of the organisation that the practitioner or professional works for.

See the Whistleblowing Procedure.