Multi-agency working

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 outcomes.

There are a number of ways of delivering multi-agency services. The Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) review of practice suggested that there were three broad models:

• multi-agency panel
• multi-agency team
• integrated service

Not all services will fit one of the models exactly - there are no hard and fast rules about how multi-agency services should be set up, and there may be some differences on the ground.

The Every Child Matters website has useful resources, including toolkits for managers and practitioners.

Associated documents

Format	Title	Date
	CWDC multi-agency working factsheet	September 2007
	CWDC Multi-agency working FAQs	October 2007