Archive

By Caroline Roaf.
Open University Press
ISBN 0335210449
£17.99

We are at a crucial stage in the history of children's services. Social services' responsibility at central governmental level has been passed to the Department for Education and Skills, the first minister for children has been appointed and structural and organisational reforms in the shape of children's trusts are about to be introduced. This thoughtful book by the respected Caroline Roaf comes, therefore, at a key moment.

The characteristics of successful inter-agency work are identified as strong commitment, especially from the top; regular inter-agency meetings; common work practices; common agreement and collective ownership of the problems; exchange of confidential information; a framework for collecting data; monitoring and evaluation; and joint training. Inter-agency work is defined as a new professionalism and the development of interpersonal skills becomes essential.

The most important conclusion is that creating "inter-agency agencies" is not needed. Instead, the evidence suggests that smaller inter-agency teams are likely to be more effective. Primary care agencies have massed a wealth of professional expertise and "an advantage of firm boundaries is that equally firm bridges can be built joining them".

David Berridge is professor of child and family welfare, University of Luton Understanding Social Security.