This second book in this practical, introductory series on practice issues in healthcare, explores the key issues and factors which influence the workings of a healthcare organisation and how these may be addressed through collaborative working and user focused care - at an introductory and practical level. The book will be presented in three sections:

¿ Working in Organisations

¿ Collaborative working

¿ User Focused Care

The emphasis of this second text is on how the organization and those who work within it contribute to (both positively and negatively) the excellence of the healthcare organization and the care it gives. Rather than a theoretical tome on team working, leadership and change management, this book instead highlights and explores the tools and techniques that ALL healthcare staff need to be successful employees and managers delivering excellent care. The authors will outline and examine the evidence available for all areas covered, both to support and to critique excellence standards, and give a lively and practical introduction to the key organizational factors of a healthcare setting. Meaty topics abound, including: Management & leadership, ethics, equity, governance, user-involvement, team working, interprofessional excellence. The focus on multiprofessional working will make this accessible to a variety of healthcare groups. In keeping with the series, the book will include case examples, real-life practice and reflective exercises, as well as the theory needed to inform delivery of excellence.

Contributors: Claire Brewis, Dr. Corrina Dickson, Dr. Lee-Ann Fenge, Karen Grimwood, Dr. Sarah Hean, Vanessa Heaslip, Jenny Kell, Melaine McSherry, Dr. Sabi Redwood, Lisa Smith, Kevin Stubbings, Jackie Tonkin, Katie Tucker