What works in strategic partnerships for children?

What works in strategic partnerships for children?
Janie Percy-Smith, Barnardos
ISBN: 1904659101
£12.99 

STAR RATING: 4/5

We take it for granted that partnerships lead to improvements but where’s the evidence, asks Vijay Patel. The author Percy-Smith points out that all evaluations to date have focused on the processes of implementation and not outcomes for children or the value of partnerships.

Much of the book reinforces commonsense, but how often does this fall by the wayside when it comes to developing policy or implementing partnerships?

While the early sections fail to recognise the achievements of policies in Scotland, I was surprised and gladdened by the later sections which were illuminating, thoughtful and helpful.

The chapter on definitions and models and the one on evaluating partnerships should be required reading for all those who are engaged in this area.

So do stop and read this before proceeding with any partnership or integration.

Vijay Patel works in the Scottish executive on integrated assessment of children