Collaboration means working with other people to create and achieve something, and valuing everyone's contribution. It is one of our values. At the MND Association we collaborate constantly.
Working together
The idea of collaboration seems easy, but it can be challenging in practice. By communicating in an honest way, we can build open and transparent relationships. Staff and support volunteers work in partnership to provide the best experience for people living and affected by MND. By working together, we:
- enable people to access the best possible care and support
- reduce duplication of effort
- better protect the people we support
- increase the impact of our national and local campaigns
Valuing diversity
People volunteer at the MND Association for many different reasons, and contributions will vary depending on their individual circumstances.
Some people join us to give something back, while others want to gain experience or develop skills. Some people will volunteer regularly, while others are only able to volunteer on a short-term or one-off basis. Some volunteers have experience of MND while others may have none or very little knowledge of the disease. Regardless of level of experience with MND, support volunteers bring a wide range of skills and experiences.
Volunteers and staff from the MND Association will work with people from a wide range of backgrounds. We value, respect and respond to people’s diverse needs and backgrounds.
We challenge behaviours that undermine, diminish, or discriminate against others and expect all our staff and volunteers to do the same. Typically, these behaviours will include:
- Talking over people
- Ignoring suggestions made
- Being dismissive or rude
If you believe you or someone you volunteer/work with is being treated disrespectfully, please contact your area support co-ordinator or any staff member.
Liaising with health and social care professionals
It is essential that area support co-ordinators, health and social care professionals and support volunteers collaborate effectively. This will help maintain effective working relationships and ultimately improve care for people living with MND.
Support volunteers will share concerns about the care of a person living with or affected by MND, with the area support coordinator or the MND Connect helpline. Support volunteers can share concerns directly with a health and social care professional if they have:
- a pre-existing relationship with a health or social care professional
- agreement from the area support coordinator to share concerns directly with a health or social care professional
- sought the consent of the person with or affected by MND, before sharing concerns with a health or social care professional
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please follow our safeguarding policy.
Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are a useful platform to:
- build and maintain relations with health and social care professionals
- highlight a particular initiative
- promote best practice in the care of people with MND
- discuss and resolve any specific issues for a person living with MND, their family or carers.
A multidisciplinary team for MND is made up of a wide range of professionals. Multidisciplinary team members each have specialist knowledge and skills in different areas (for example neurology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy etc).
Area support co-ordinators may attend multidisciplinary team meetings to resolve an issue for a person affected by MND, maintain and develop relationships or highlight a particular initiative. Some support volunteers may attend multidisciplinary team meetings where this has been arranged by an area support coordinator, and with the agreement of the multidisciplinary team chair.
Enhance your knowledge by reading our guidance on boundaries.
Other organisations
Staff and support volunteers typically build relationships with and signpost to other sources of support in local areas.
Hospices provide care and support and are the most common partner organisations support volunteers are involved with.
Other organisations provide types of support which the Association does not - for example bereavement counselling. Others offer targeted support to carers or older people (e.g. Carers UK, Age UK etc) and we may be able to help people affected by MND access these services.