Multi-Agency Working for Children and Young People

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Multi-Agency Working for Children and Young People

• Workshop for Student Teachers

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Aim

• The aim of the workshop is to provide a stimulus
  for student teachers to engage with the concept
  of multi-agency working in the UK and to consider
  the application of that engagement in their role
  as teachers of children and young people.
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Indicative Outcomes

• By the end of the workshop you should be able
  to
• Identify the range and function of appropriate
  agencies and professions that work with children
  and young people
• Describe some benefits and tensions of child and
  young person focussed multi-agency working
• Consider ways of integrating their own role as
  teacher with a wide range of other professionals
  and describe the impact of multi-agency working
  upon their own professional development
• Situate current practice development within the
  national policy context.
  
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Opening Activity

• You are becoming increasingly aware of issues
  relating to a child in your class.
• They
• Arrive late some mornings
• Miss homework
• Seem tired on Monday mornings
• Have become increasingly withdrawn from classroom
  and peer activities
• Dont engage in trips or extra-curricular
  activity
• Have a mother who you see in local shops but who
  has never attended school events or parents
  evenings 4

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Discussion

• In pairs or groups, discuss
• What are your impressions / views of this
  situation?
• What might you do about this situation?
• Write down your main thoughts / discussion points
  
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(No Transcript)
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The Hunts

• If this was the situation with your pupil..
• What are your impressions now?
• What might you do differently?
• Discuss your thoughts in groups 7

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Help for the Hunts?

• What agencies or professionals do you think might
  be involved in or able to help this family?
• What are their roles?
• Which family members do you think they are
  working for?
• How do you think that the teacher / school links
  with these agencies?
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The Hunt FamilyOne possiblenetwork of
professionals
Specialist Support Groups ?
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What is Multi-Agency Work?

• a range of different services which have some
  overlapping or shared interests and objectives,
  brought together to work collaboratively towards
  some common purposes
• (Wigfall Moss, 2001, p.71)
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Benefits of Multi-Agency Work

• It co-ordinates the work of those involved e.g.
  when conducting multi-agency assessments of
  children and young people. For more information
  on this see http//www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/de
  liveringservices/caf/
• It can lead to a sharing of resources
• It can lead to joint funding of projects
• It should lead to better outcomes for children
  and young people as holistic needs are addressed
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Barriers to Good Multi-Agency Work

• Different core functions, cultures and practices
  between agencies
• Lack of clarity in lines of authority and
  decision-making
• Historical or current jealousies or rivalries
  between agencies
• Different and conflicting social policy or
  legislation
• Lack of clarity about why agencies are involved
• Poor communication 12

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Tensions in Multi-Agency Work

• How should an individual deal with
• Individuals from other agencies having or using
  power or status
• Structural issues in another agency e.g. staff
  shortages, delays in responding to concerns
• Another agency not delivering on promises
• Another agency doing something you believe is
  wrong or against the child or young persons
  interests
• Unreasonable demands from another agency
• Another agency using different legislation to
  justify their actions, or inaction 13

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Principles of Good Multi-Agency Work

• If the following are in place, effective
  multi-agency work should follow
• Clearly agreed and defined functions
• Tasks with agreed boundaries
• Well organised and established communication
• Well developed local relationships
• Overcoming of ignorance and prejudice about each
  others work
• Defining of common goals
• Using common language
• Respecting different skills
• Ensuring all know what the local arrangements are
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Further Reading

• Joughin, C Law, C. (2005), Evidence to Inform
  the National Service Framework for Children,
  Young People and Maternity Services. London, DfES
  DH.
• Murphy, M. (2004), Developing collaborative
  relationships in interagency child protection
  work. Lyme Regis, Russell House.
• Roaf, C. (2002), Coordinating Services for
  Included Children Joined up Action. Buckingham,
  OUP.
• Wigfall, V Moss, P. (2001), More than the sum
  of its parts? A study of a multi-agency child
  care network. London, National Children's
  Bureau. 15

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National Policies

• Every Child Matters, England
• Getting it Right for Every Child / Childrens
  Services Bill, Scotland
• Rights to Action, Wales
• Our Children and Young People Our Pledge / The
  Super Six, Northern Ireland
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The 4 Visions
ENGLAND NORTHERN IRELAND WALES SCOTLAND
Being healthy Being healthy The best possible health, free from abuse, victimisation and exploitation Being healthy
Staying safe Living in safety and with stability A safe home and community Being safe
Enjoying and achieving Enjoying, learning and achieving A flying start in life Achieving
Making a positive contribution Contributing positively to community and society Play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities Being respected and responsible
Achieve economic well-being Experiencing economic and environmental well-being Children and young people not disadvantaged by poverty Being nurtured
Living in a society which represents their rights A comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities Being active
Treated with respect and have their race and cultural identity recognised Being included 17
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Troublesome Issues

• Tension between targeted and universal support
• The rights and needs of the ordinary majority
• Finite resources and making difficult choices
• School role and teacher capacity
• Tension between pastoral care and achievement
  targets
• Uncertainties, risks and professional dilemmas
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Personal Reflection and Planning

• Key learning points for you about multi-agency
  working
• What is the likely impact of multi-agency working
  on your future work as a teacher?
• How could you contribute to multi-agency working
  in the future
• Within school?
• With other agencies or professionals?
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