Hertfordshire first with launch of unified services

Hertfordshire Council achieved a national first this week when
its children, schools and families service went live.

The service is an amalgamation of children and families social
services and the education department.

The new service is headed by former education director Ray
Shostak, who said: “This is not a merger. We are creating a new
service. It represents a real chance to maximise the opportunities
arising from recent government legislation, by pooling budgets and
enabling the various workers involved in a child’s case to cross
both disciplinary and agency boundaries.”

The service is designed to make the system more inclusive and
simpler to access. Cases will be dealt with by one case
co-ordinator, ensuring that all parties are kept fully in the
picture.