The importance of interagency cooperation within children’s services has been highlighted within recent government strategy, including the Every Child Matters agenda, the development of Children’s Centres and the expansion of Extended Schools. Following tragic cases such as Victoria Climbie, the need for effective multi-disciplinary teamwork and interagency co-operation across all education and care settings remains as pressing as ever. Working Together in Children’s Services addresses a range of theoretical perspectives and contexts to stimulate students and practitioners critical thinking about the issues of multi-agency working. The book provides the reader with a critical framework for understanding both new and future developments and explores key issues like: The notion of "working together" and what it means in practice The benefits and barriers of multi-agency work Current policy and requirements for successful interdisciplinary working Essential skills for inter-professional teamwork. As modules on multi-professional working become increasingly common, the book will provide core reading for all students of Early Childhood Studies, Initial Teacher Education and Foundation Degrees in the Early Years. By showing how to develop successful multi-agency partnerships, it is also highly relevant for teachers and practitioners working across children’s services.

Children’s Services: Working Together brings together contributions from a number of authors in the field. The book covers policy, theory, research and practice relevant to students and professionals working with children in a wide range of roles. The emphasis on working collaboratively with other professionals, where appropriate, and the holistic approach to children make this a valuable resource to anyone working with children today.

Working Together for Children provides an account of the systems and processes of multi-agency work with several groups of children and their families. The key philosophy of the book is that such work is inherently complex, and only by understanding and grappling with these complexities can prospective or practising professionals within children's services contribute really effectively to multi-agency working. This second edition contains updated references to legislation and guidance underpinning multi-agency working, as well as fresh configurations of chapters to reflect new ways of categorising needs of, and organising support for, children in a variety of circumstances. New chapters are included for specific groups of children including coverage of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and youth justice. Reflection on practice, to help link policy with practice, is a theme running throughout the book, which uses features to assist the reader including: - information boxes giving further factual details of particular areas related to multi-agency working - reflective exercises including case studies - questions designed to stimulate reflection on issues raised - an appendix providing points to consider and suggestions for the exercises This introduction is for trainee practitioners in childcare or childhood related courses, education, social work, youth work and health care, or for those already working in such settings who are looking to improve their practice.

Changing Children's Services examines the fundamental changes that children's services have been undergoing in the United Kingdom in the context of the drive toward increasingly integrated ways of working. The contributors critically examine the potential and realities of closer integration and ask whether these new ways of working are truly more effective in responding to the needs and aspirations of children and their families. They also explore the experiences of working in constantly changing environments and their effects on practitioners and clients. This fully updated second edition offers a new introduction with a helpful overview of current key issues and new case studies to illustrate the realities of practice today.

A Handbook for Inter-professional Practice in the Human Services: Learning to Work Together is an essential text for all students of inter-professional education, and for practitioners looking to understand and develop better inter-agency working. With an emphasis on working collaboratively with fellow professionals, service users and the community, and developing an holistic approach to working, this is an essential resource for anyone studying on courses in social work, nursing, education, health, medicine, social policy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and dentistry, and for all those with an interest in the human services.

Working Together to Safeguard Children