Understand links and interrelationships with other services

Often when supporting a person it is necessary to work with a range of different community services. A service user (or their representative) must give consent before any information is shared with or accessed from another community service. Most organisations gather this consent using a specific form. Consent is given for access to particular information for a particular purpose; often the specific workers within the organisation receiving the information are also named.

Although different organisations may provide specific service needs, it is important to understand that they are linked through the shared values and philosophies that govern the community services sector. These values emphasise the need for workers to understand the interrelationships between services so that the holistic care needs of the individual are met.

Here is a summary of the broad values and philosophies that apply across community service organisations.