The ethics of getting on with others

The official advice and much of the current literature about healthy alliances emphasises the process and management of intersectoral collaboration. This sort of advice has tended to concentrate on how, and what, should be done. However, for many people working in health, social services or the voluntary sector, the high moral tone of much of this advice has often served to make them feel guilty. The experience of many professionals is that it is difficult to relate to other agencies, that conflicting traditions can easily get in the way of effective partnership relationships. This may lead to a general intolerance of views that do not coincide with one’s own. It may seem strange that people who have chosen to work on behalf of others nevertheless find it difficult to behave well with fellow workers. This chapter explores why this happens and suggests ways of overcoming the difficulties by being clearer about the ethical basis of working together.