3.1 Explain the partnership model of working with carers

This guide will help you answer 3.1 Explain the partnership model of working with carers.

The partnership model of working with carers is about professionals in children and young people’s services working alongside parents, guardians, or other family members who take on a caring role. The aim is to create a respectful, cooperative relationship where everyone shares knowledge, skills and responsibilities for supporting the child or young person.

A caring role may be held by biological parents, adoptive parents, foster carers, kinship carers, or extended family members such as grandparents. Each group may have different needs, experiences and priorities, but the partnership approach values each as a central figure in the life of the child. It recognises that carers know their child best in terms of personality, preferences, and lived experience.

In practice, the partnership model means shared communication, shared planning, and shared decision making. It is not about professionals taking over, but about professionals supporting carers to achieve the best developmental, educational, health and emotional outcomes for the young person.

The Principles of Partnership Working

Several principles shape the partnership model:

• Mutual respect – recognising the expertise that both carers and professionals bring.
• Shared responsibility – understanding that the welfare of the child is a joint aim.
• Open and honest communication – maintaining regular contact and truthful discussions.
• Inclusivity – making sure carers are invited to be part of all important discussions.
• Empowerment – encouraging carers to take an active role, rather than being passive recipients of care plans.

This model trusts carers with clear information about the child’s progress and challenges, and values their input in assessments. It replaces an ‘expert only’ view with one that combines professional learning and family insight.

Why Partnership Working Matters

Children benefit when all influential adults in their lives work together. Mixed messages can cause confusion, but consistency aids emotional security and behavioural stability. When carers feel respected and valued, they are more likely to engage, support agreed plans, and continue reinforcing positive behaviours at home.

Partnership working supports early intervention. Carers may notice small changes in a child’s behaviour or health before school or health staff see them. Prompt sharing of concerns allows for quicker support, which can prevent problems from escalating.

Trust between carers and professionals encourages more open conversations around sensitive issues such as special educational needs, safeguarding concerns, or emotional well-being. This trust can improve problem-solving and conflict resolution.

Roles in the Partnership Model

Carers often have roles that include:

• Sharing detailed knowledge about the child’s personality and habits
• Supporting learning activities at home
• Attending meetings and contributing to plans
• Encouraging attendance and participation in education and activities
• Monitoring health or behaviour

Professionals’ roles include:

• Providing expert advice in areas like education, health, and social care
• Offering resources and guidance to carers
• Carrying out assessments and creating structured plans
• Linking the family to other support services
• Monitoring progress and reviewing strategies with carers

When these roles are complementary and balanced, the child benefits from a united support system.

Building Effective Communication

Communication sits at the centre of a strong partnership. Workers must choose methods that suit the carers’ preferences and abilities. Phone calls, text messages, school meetings, home visits and written reports may all play a part.

Good communication includes:

• Listening carefully to carers’ concerns
• Avoiding jargon and explaining any technical terms in plain English
• Agreeing how often updates will be given
• Keeping records of discussions and agreed actions
• Responding to questions promptly and clearly

Active listening is important. This means giving attention to both words and tone, asking follow-up questions, and showing that carers’ views are valued.

Shared Planning and Decision Making

Planning in partnership means carers are involved from the start. For example, if a child is struggling in school, the teacher can meet with the parents to discuss strategies. Both parties contribute ideas. This shares responsibility for the outcome.

Decision making may include:

• Choosing intervention programmes or specialist referrals
• Setting learning or behaviour goals
• Agreeing on routines and boundaries
• Planning activities that build the child’s skills and confidence

When carers are involved in setting goals, they are more likely to feel ownership of the plan, and to support it at home.

Respecting Carers’ Knowledge

Carers have daily contact with the child. They see patterns and behaviours that may be missed during short professional interactions. A partnership model respects this and seeks to make use of it.

Professionals can ask open questions like:

• What has worked well so far?
• What do you find most challenging?
• Are there any changes at home we should know about?

Acknowledging carers’ expertise helps avoid conflict. It builds a sense of collaboration rather than power imbalance.

Recognising Cultural and Social Factors

Carers’ backgrounds can influence the way they view routines, discipline, education and health. The partnership model encourages sensitivity to these factors and works within them where possible. This requires flexibility and willingness to adapt approaches.

For example, cultural considerations might affect:

• Diet choices
• Religious observances
• Expectations of behaviour
• Ways of showing respect

Recognising these factors shows respect and encourages engagement.

Overcoming Barriers to Partnership Working

Partnership working can face challenges. These may include:

• Lack of time for meetings
• Carers feeling intimidated by professional language or settings
• Past negative experiences with services
• Disagreements about what is best for the child
• Communication difficulties such as language differences or literacy issues

Workers can help overcome these barriers by:

• Offering flexible meeting times
• Using interpreters or translated materials where needed
• Creating a welcoming environment
• Keeping conversations clear and focused on shared goals
• Listening and addressing concerns respectfully

Legal and Policy Context

Partnership working with carers is supported by several UK laws and policies. Key examples include the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. These place a duty on professionals to involve parents and carers in decisions affecting the child.

Education law also supports parental engagement in schools. Health services follow similar principles in paediatric care, where carers are involved in treatment decisions except where safeguarding issues prevent this.

Safeguarding policies often guide when and how partnership working should adapt. If a carer is suspected of causing harm, the relationship changes and professionals take protective action for the child.

Skills Needed for Effective Partnership Working

Workers who adopt the partnership model need certain skills:

• Clear verbal and written communication
• Empathy and active listening
• Negotiation and compromise
• Confidentiality awareness
• Cultural competence
• Conflict resolution ability

Training and supervision can support workers to maintain these skills. Regular reflection on practice helps keep relationships strong.

Example of Partnership Working in Action

A child in early years education is showing signs of speech delay. The key worker meets with the parents to share observations and listen to the parents’ perspective. Together they agree on activities to encourage speech at home and in the nursery. Progress is reviewed monthly.

Because the parents are actively involved and the nursery supports the same goals, the child makes steady progress. The partnership has created a consistent, supportive environment across settings.

Monitoring and Reviewing the Partnership

Once a partnership is established, it is important to check it is working well. This might involve:

• Reviewing goals and progress regularly
• Asking carers for feedback on the support they receive
• Adjusting plans based on new information
• Keeping communication open and positive

Monitoring ensures the partnership remains beneficial and responsive to changing needs.

Shared Benefits of the Partnership Model

The benefits are clear for all involved:

• Children get consistent support in all settings
• Carers feel valued and confident in their role
• Professionals get accurate information from those closest to the child
• Relationships between home and services improve
• Problems can be identified and acted on more quickly

These benefits create stronger outcomes for children’s learning, health and safety.

Final Thoughts

The partnership model of working with carers is a practical and respectful way of supporting children and young people. It builds on trust, shared responsibility and communication. It values the daily insight of carers and the structured expertise of professionals.

When the model is applied well, children receive consistent messages and care, and both carers and professionals work with a common purpose. The model depends on honest dialogue, mutual respect and a willingness to adapt based on feedback. Through strong partnerships, children are more likely to thrive socially, emotionally, and educationally.