Partnership working is recognised as the most effective way of improving social care services‎,‎ and a non‎-negotiable part of the government‎'‎s aim is to provide a seamless care service‎.‎ However‎,‎ for students undertaking placements or for more experienced professionals moving to a different service area‎,‎ the question is‎:‎ what does it mean in practical terms‎?‎ This book is both an introduction and an in‎-depth analysis of partnership working across the public sector in the UK‎.‎ In a comprehensive discussion of partnership working‎,‎ Anthony Douglas explores‎:‎ * The history of partnership working‎,‎ its theoretical base and practical applications * Why partnership working is important * How professionals are already working together * How to develop good partnerships and address common difficulties * How to ensure that partnership working really does result in better practice * The future of partnership working The analysis and examples range across the whole of the public sector with a primary focus on social care‎.‎ Drawing on up‎-to‎-date research evidence and using plenty of practical examples and thinking points‎,‎ Partnership Working will be of interest to students and researchers at all levels and practitioners and managers of front‎-line services‎.‎