Implementing integrated working

Integrated working is at the centre of making a real difference to the lives of children, young people, and their families. It is a central part of the Every Child Matters agenda.

We are charged with implementing integrated working by closely collaborating with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), local and regional organisations across England and with the children's private, faith, community and third sector workforce.

The Children's Plan : Building a brighter future (DCSF December 2007) stated that "Children's Trusts to have in place by 2010 consistent high quality arrangements to provide identification and early intervention for all children and young people who need addition help". The recently published Building a brighter future: next steps for the children's workforce and leading and managing children's services in England (DCSF April 2008) begins to set a vision of how this may happen.

Further  information including, toolkits, guidance, fact sheets and training packages for integrated working are located on the Every Child Matters website with links to the relevant pages provided by CWDC.

CWDC is responsible for implementing and supporting the following areas:

• Information sharing
  Sharing information is vital for early intervention to ensure that children and young people get the services they require. Responsibility for the information sharing guidance (legal requirement) still lies with DCSF.
• The Common Assessment Framework
  The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of delivering front-line services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people. The CAF is a standardised approach to conducting an assessment of a child's additional needs and deciding how those needs should be met.
  
  
• Lead professional
  The lead professional is a key element of integrated support. They take the lead to coordinate provision and act as a single point of contact for a child and their family when a range of services are involved and an integrated response is required.
• Multi-agency working toolkit
  Multi-agency working has been shown to be an effective way of supporting children and young people with additional needs and securing real improvements in their life.

DCSF retain responsibility for policy in these areas, plus the information sharing guidance, e-caf and ContactPoint.

Further information including toolkits, guidance, fact sheets and training packages for integrated working are located on the Every Child Matters website.

A interactive CD-ROM containing guidance on all the above areas, and other useful integrated working resources is available upon request from integratedworking@cwdcouncil.org.uk