Working Together in Children's Services

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.

Damien Fitzgerald is Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood and Associate Director of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Sheffield Hallam University. Janet Kay is Principal Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at Sheffield Hallam University. Her professional background is in social work with children and families.

Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Working in a integrated way Chapter 2 The Development of Multi-Disciplinary Work in Children's Services Chapter 3 Challenges to Developing Joined Up Working Chapter 4 Interdisciplinary Teamwork Chapter 5: Turning Policy Aspirations to Practical Reality Chapter 6: Developing the Workforce to Meet the Challenge of Integrated Working References