The Integrated Children's System

The Integrated Children's System (ICS) was developed to support effective practice with children and families and improve decision making and planning for children in need. This book outlines what the ICS is and how it works, and assesses the effectiveness of a number of pilot studies, offering guidance for others using and implementing the system, which is being rolled out nationally.

Part of the Government's long term programme to improve outcomes and life chances for children, the system provides a more structured and systematic approach by integrating the processes of working with children in need from the point of first contact through to the final review.

The Integrated Children's System is vital reading for policymakers, social care managers, social care practitioners and those responsible for implementing the system.

Wendy Rose is Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the Open University, UK, and works on national and international child welfare research and development projects. She was previously a senior civil servant advising the government on children's policy.