Developing Multi-Professional Teamwork for Integrated Children's Services: Research, Policy and Practice

"This book tackles an important subject in a clear and accessible way. It is rooted in rigorous qualitative research, the methods of which are carefully described. It is also intensely practical."
Adoption & Fostering

Multiprofessional practice in the delivery of services is a central government imperative in the UK and other countries. This book offers a practical resource to professionals charged with conceptualising, planning, implementing and evaluating multiprofessional practice in children's services. The book:

• Exemplifies what multiprofessional work looks like in practice
• Examines real dilemmas faced by professionals trying to make it work, and shows how these dilemmas can be resolved
• Considers lessons to be learnt, implications for practice and recommendations for making multiprofessional practice effective

Discussion of dilemmas facing multiprofessional teams include organising and managing multi-professional teams, supporting professionals as they learn to adapt to new roles and responsibilities, and learning how to share professional knowledge and expertise.

Featuring useful guidance, theoretical frameworks and evidence-based insights into practice, this book is a key resource for students on courses studying early childhood and families, as well as social workers, teachers, support workers in children's centres, family support workers, health workers, and managers of a range of children and youth services.

Angela Anning has a background in work in early years education and family intervention programmes, particularly in urban areas of the UK. Her research interests include early years curriculum, especially art education, and the professional knowledge of those responsible for delivering services for young children. She is a research professor at the University of Leeds and a principal investigator at Birkbeck College, London, for the national evaluation of the anti-poverty initiative Sure Start.

David Cottrell is Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Associate Medical Director for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in Leeds. He has helped develop and evaluate a range of innovative, community based and responsive services to children within the NHS and in partnership with local education and social services.

Nick Frost is Senior Lecturer in Child Welfare and Lifelong Learning, in the School of Education at the University of Leeds. Nick was formerly a social worker and policy officer and has worked in the public and voluntary sectors. He has published widely in the field of child welfare and lifelong learning. Nick is interested in how professionals learn, joined-up working and aspects of child welfare including children’s homes, family support and child protection.

Josephine Green is Professor of Psychosocial Reproductive Health and Deputy Director of the Mother & Infant Research Unit at the University of York.

Mark Robinson is a senior researcher with a background in education, health and social services research. His research interests include social inclusion and diversity; management of organisational change; user involvement; and young people. He has a particular interest in methodological issues in qualitative and multi-method research.