Child: Care, Health and Development, 32(4), July 2006, pp.477-492.
Publisher:
Wiley
This article clarifies the nature of 'service integration' and 'service co-ordination' and discusses how these aspects relate to the fundamental goal of providing co-ordinated care for children with disabilities and their families. Based on a review of the service delivery literatures in the fields of health, social services and rehabilitation, a framework is presented that outlines the scope of the co-ordination-related functions and activities encompassed in three common types of approaches to the delivery of co-ordinated care. These are a system/sector-based service integration approach, an agency-based service integration approach and a client/family-based service co-ordination approach. The functions outlined in the framework include aggregate-level planning of services (designed to map out the scope and plan for service provision in a community or geographical area), administrative functions (designed to ensure wise and equitable access to resources) and client-specific service delivery functions (designed to link clients/families to needed services). The framework is a tool that can be used to support policy making and decision making with respect to the design of efforts to provide co-ordinated care. It provides information about commonly used approaches and the essential elements of these approaches, which can be used in making choices about the scope and nature of an approach towards service integration/co-ordination.
This article clarifies the nature of 'service integration' and 'service co-ordination' and discusses how these aspects relate to the fundamental goal of providing co-ordinated care for children with disabilities and their families. Based on a review of the service delivery literatures in the fields of health, social services and rehabilitation, a framework is presented that outlines the scope of the co-ordination-related functions and activities encompassed in three common types of approaches to the delivery of co-ordinated care. These are a system/sector-based service integration approach, an agency-based service integration approach and a client/family-based service co-ordination approach. The functions outlined in the framework include aggregate-level planning of services (designed to map out the scope and plan for service provision in a community or geographical area), administrative functions (designed to ensure wise and equitable access to resources) and client-specific service delivery functions (designed to link clients/families to needed services). The framework is a tool that can be used to support policy making and decision making with respect to the design of efforts to provide co-ordinated care. It provides information about commonly used approaches and the essential elements of these approaches, which can be used in making choices about the scope and nature of an approach towards service integration/co-ordination.
Subject terms:
joint working, physical disabilities, policy, social care provision, children, decision making, health care;
GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland
Publisher:
Stationery Office
Publication year:
1996
Pagination:
70p.
Place of publication:
Belfast
The Regulations made under the Children Order include permissions and restrictions as to what may or may not be done and also requirements on what must be done. As with the Children Order itself, the Regulations carry the full weight of the law. The guidance issued under the Children Order is not law, but rather what the Department considers to be good practice. This covers: assessment; joint working; parenting; families; social care provision.
The Regulations made under the Children Order include permissions and restrictions as to what may or may not be done and also requirements on what must be done. As with the Children Order itself, the Regulations carry the full weight of the law. The guidance issued under the Children Order is not law, but rather what the Department considers to be good practice. This covers: assessment; joint working; parenting; families; social care provision.
Extended abstract:
Author:NORTHERN IRELAND. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Title: Children (NI) Order 1995: regulations and guidance: volume 5: children with a disability Publisher: Stationery Office, 1996
Summary
The guidance issued under the Children Order is not law, but rather what the Department considers good practice, and covers assessment; joint working; parenting; families; and social care provision.
Contents
The preface explains the status of regulations and guidance. The Regulations made under the Children Order include permissions and restrictions as to what may or may not be done and also requirements on what must be done. As with the Children Order itself, the Regulations carry the full weight of the law. The general principles of the Children Order are listed. Chapter 1 is an introduction explaining trusts' duty to provide services for children with a disability. Chapter 2 explains the general requirement for trusts to identify the extent to which there are children in need in their area. Chapter 3 requires trusts to develop appropriate links between professional groups and collaborate with agencies. Chapter 4 covers the need for trusts to develop assessment procedures. Chapter 5 takes the assessment and planning process further, requiring trusts to have regard to the Departmental policy paper ‘People first' when assessing need. Trusts' requirement to work in partnership with parents and children is outlined in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 requires trusts to work with the community to facilitate provision by voluntary organisations and others and develop effective co-ordination, communication and mutual respect between and with professionals and services. Chapter 8 covers services to children living with their families. Chapter 9 places on trusts a need to develop communication with education and library boards at senior management level. The contribution of child health staff is covered in Chapter 10. Chapter 11 considers provision of accommodation as a service to children in need and their families. Foster placements is the theme of Chapter 12. The duties and responsibilities of trusts and others in relation to children in residential care are discussed in Chapter 13. Chapter 14 states that trusts, voluntary organisations and privately-run children's homes have a statutory duty to have a system for considering representations and complaints, and Chapter 15 that trusts have a statutory duty to investigate where a child may be in need of protection. Finally Chapter 16 discusses the transition to adulthood and trusts' duty to prepare young people they are looking after for leaving care and provide after care for young people who have been accommodated by trusts or other agencies.
Subject terms:
joint working, parenting, physical disabilities, social care provision, assessment, children, families;
Journal of Integrated Care, 12(2), April 2004, pp.24-34.
Publisher:
Emerald
Recent government policies in relation to children stress the importance of service integration and partnership working, with particular emphasis on combating social exclusion. With reference to findings from a three year empirical study, this article examines some key elements of the process of multi-agency working in services for disabled children with complex health care needs. Highlights some of the barriers to effective partnerships and lists some pointers for policy and practice.
Recent government policies in relation to children stress the importance of service integration and partnership working, with particular emphasis on combating social exclusion. With reference to findings from a three year empirical study, this article examines some key elements of the process of multi-agency working in services for disabled children with complex health care needs. Highlights some of the barriers to effective partnerships and lists some pointers for policy and practice.
Subject terms:
interagency cooperation, joint working, multidisciplinary services, multiple disabilities, physical disabilities, social care provision, children;
Child and Family Social Work, 10(3), August 2005, pp.229-238.
Publisher:
Wiley
Discusses findings from a 3-year research project, commissioned by the Family Fund and carried out by the Norah Fry Research Centre, which looked at both the process and impact of multi-agency working on families with a disabled child with complex health care needs. Interviews with 25 parents and 18 children and young people who used six developed, multi-agency services were carried out. Findings suggested that the services had made a big difference to the health care needs of disabled children but were less able to meet the wider needs of the child and the family particularly in relation to social and emotional needs. Multi-agency working appeared to make some positive, but not significant, differences to the lives of families.
Discusses findings from a 3-year research project, commissioned by the Family Fund and carried out by the Norah Fry Research Centre, which looked at both the process and impact of multi-agency working on families with a disabled child with complex health care needs. Interviews with 25 parents and 18 children and young people who used six developed, multi-agency services were carried out. Findings suggested that the services had made a big difference to the health care needs of disabled children but were less able to meet the wider needs of the child and the family particularly in relation to social and emotional needs. Multi-agency working appeared to make some positive, but not significant, differences to the lives of families.
Subject terms:
joint working, keyworkers, multidisciplinary services, physical disabilities, user views, children, families, health care;
Nearly half of families with disabled children receive no support from the NHS or social services. The authors found that 48% of families with disabled children received no help from outside the family and a further 30% received less than two hours support per week. Four out of five families (80%) said health and social services were "not properly coordinated". "The level of support given to these families by social services is often extremely poor," the report said. "The system is bureaucratic, has little sense of responsibility and is fuelled by ideological theories that have little relevance to everyday life." The report recommended giving the families of disabled children more control over their own lives. It called for the £140m currently spent on commissioning social services for the disabled to be given directly to the families as a non-means-tested payment in addition to current benefits. The thinktank estimated this extra money would be worth £115 a week.
Nearly half of families with disabled children receive no support from the NHS or social services. The authors found that 48% of families with disabled children received no help from outside the family and a further 30% received less than two hours support per week. Four out of five families (80%) said health and social services were "not properly coordinated". "The level of support given to these families by social services is often extremely poor," the report said. "The system is bureaucratic, has little sense of responsibility and is fuelled by ideological theories that have little relevance to everyday life." The report recommended giving the families of disabled children more control over their own lives. It called for the £140m currently spent on commissioning social services for the disabled to be given directly to the families as a non-means-tested payment in addition to current benefits. The thinktank estimated this extra money would be worth £115 a week.
Subject terms:
income support, informal care, joint working, joint commissioning, physical disabilities, social services, children, eligibility criteria, families, expenditure;
Children with complex health care needs and their families have the same range of needs for services and support as other disabled children. But they also have additional care needs. Almost thirty years of research has consistently shown that families with disabled children would prefer the many agencies that they encounter to work together more effectively. Since 1997, a strong policy emphasis on the importance of ‘joined-up’ working has promoted the benefits of partnerships. In response, many projects and services have been established throughout the UK that aim to implement better joint work whilst improving quality of life for this group of children and their families. There is, however, a notable lack of information about the nature of multi-agency services for children with complex health care needs.
Children with complex health care needs and their families have the same range of needs for services and support as other disabled children. But they also have additional care needs. Almost thirty years of research has consistently shown that families with disabled children would prefer the many agencies that they encounter to work together more effectively. Since 1997, a strong policy emphasis on the importance of ‘joined-up’ working has promoted the benefits of partnerships. In response, many projects and services have been established throughout the UK that aim to implement better joint work whilst improving quality of life for this group of children and their families. There is, however, a notable lack of information about the nature of multi-agency services for children with complex health care needs.
Subject terms:
interagency cooperation, joint working, literature reviews, multiple disabilities, physical disabilities, unmet need, children, families;
Children with disabilities, under the loving guidance of their parents-the true experts-can lead successful, natural lives at home, in school, and in their communities. The first step to ensure children lead successful, natural lives requires us to recognize that disability is not the "problem." The problem is, and always has been, society's attitude toward, and social policies for, children and adults with disabilities. Parents can learn common sense techniques for raising successful children with disabilities. When it is recognized that disability is a natural part of the human experience, new attitudes lead to new actions for successful lives at home, in school and in communities. When parents replace today's conventional wisdom with the common sense values and creative thinking, all children with disabilities (regardless of age or type of disability) can live the life of their dreams. It is necessary to define a child by his or her assets - instead of a disability-related "problem," and to create new and improved partnerships with educators, health care professionals, family and friends.
Children with disabilities, under the loving guidance of their parents-the true experts-can lead successful, natural lives at home, in school, and in their communities. The first step to ensure children lead successful, natural lives requires us to recognize that disability is not the "problem." The problem is, and always has been, society's attitude toward, and social policies for, children and adults with disabilities. Parents can learn common sense techniques for raising successful children with disabilities. When it is recognized that disability is a natural part of the human experience, new attitudes lead to new actions for successful lives at home, in school and in communities. When parents replace today's conventional wisdom with the common sense values and creative thinking, all children with disabilities (regardless of age or type of disability) can live the life of their dreams. It is necessary to define a child by his or her assets - instead of a disability-related "problem," and to create new and improved partnerships with educators, health care professionals, family and friends.
Subject terms:
joint working, parental role, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, social role valorisation, attitudes, children;
Almost thirty years of research has consistently shown that families with disabled children would prefer the many agencies that they encounter to work together more effectively. Since 1997, a strong policy emphasis on the importance of ‘joined-up’ working has promoted the benefits of partnerships. In response, many projects and services have been established throughout the UK that aim to implement better joint work whilst improving quality of life for this group of children and their families. There is, however, a notable lack of information about the nature of multi-agency services for children with complex health care needs. And, crucially, the impact that these partnerships have on families and children.
Almost thirty years of research has consistently shown that families with disabled children would prefer the many agencies that they encounter to work together more effectively. Since 1997, a strong policy emphasis on the importance of ‘joined-up’ working has promoted the benefits of partnerships. In response, many projects and services have been established throughout the UK that aim to implement better joint work whilst improving quality of life for this group of children and their families. There is, however, a notable lack of information about the nature of multi-agency services for children with complex health care needs. And, crucially, the impact that these partnerships have on families and children.
Subject terms:
interagency cooperation, joint working, multidisciplinary services, outcomes, physical disabilities, quality of life, social care provision, activities of daily living, children, families;
The improvement handbook has been designed for managers and staff who work with disabled children and their families, across different agencies and disciplines. Individual services and agencies can use it to improve their own services. But, the most effective way to use the change pack is for managers and professionals from different agencies and disciplines to use it to review and develop services together. Families said that very often it was better co-ordination between different professionals and agencies that would make the biggest difference to the quality of their lives.
The improvement handbook has been designed for managers and staff who work with disabled children and their families, across different agencies and disciplines. Individual services and agencies can use it to improve their own services. But, the most effective way to use the change pack is for managers and professionals from different agencies and disciplines to use it to review and develop services together. Families said that very often it was better co-ordination between different professionals and agencies that would make the biggest difference to the quality of their lives.
Subject terms:
interagency cooperation, joint working, organisations, physical disabilities, social services, social care provision, social worker-service user relationships, children, families;
There have been numerous government initiatives in relation to providing quality services for disabled children and their families. One key area in need of further development, identified by both service professionals and service users, is the provision of accessible information for parents, carers and others who work with disabled children. Easily accessible information is particularly important in the context of changing services and multi-agency working. This report addresses the issue by providing: an overview of current policy and practice in the provision of services for disabled children and their families; a 'how to' guide to best practice for the production of an information guide to services, from planning and production to evaluation and analysis; evaluation of an information guide from the perspective of both parents and professionals.
There have been numerous government initiatives in relation to providing quality services for disabled children and their families. One key area in need of further development, identified by both service professionals and service users, is the provision of accessible information for parents, carers and others who work with disabled children. Easily accessible information is particularly important in the context of changing services and multi-agency working. This report addresses the issue by providing: an overview of current policy and practice in the provision of services for disabled children and their families; a 'how to' guide to best practice for the production of an information guide to services, from planning and production to evaluation and analysis; evaluation of an information guide from the perspective of both parents and professionals.
Subject terms:
information services, joint working, multidisciplinary services, physical disabilities, social care provision, access to information, access to services, children, families;