DfEE Green Paper (22/10/1997) - Co-operation between local agencies

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7 Working together

Co-operation between local agencies

5. Effective collaboration between LEAs, social services departments and health authorities is essential. Too often the fragmentation of services between different statutory agencies, competition and tight budgets has left parents to take responsibility for co-ordinating provision for their child.

6. The need for closer co-operation starts in Government. The National Advisory Group on SEN includes people with expertise in education, health and social services. We will work towards effective co-ordination of policy for young children in these areas by strengthening links between the DfEE and the Department of Health. The Departments are, for example, jointly funding a research project on inter-agency co-operation based at Newcastle University. A Green Paper on the Government's health strategy, to be published later this year, will consult on targets for redressing inequality in the health of children and young people, which has clear links to social competence and educational achievement.

7. Effective collaboration between statutory agencies is particularly important for those children with SEN who are defined by the Children Act as being "in need", including those looked after by local authorities. Some local authorities undertake joint planning and funding of residential educational placements or packages of care for children in need. The regional planning arrangements discussed in Chapter 5 may encourage such practices to become more widespread. Sir William Utting's imminent report on safeguards for children living away from home will have an important bearing on these and related matters in this Green Paper. Where children looked after by a local authority are placed in a residential special school, the placement should be jointly planned and funded by the education and social services departments and, where appropriate, the health authority. In working together, statutory agencies should also involve local voluntary bodies to the maximum extent possible.

QUESTION: What are the barriers to improved collaboration between LEAs, social services departments and health authorities? How can these be overcome?

31/08/2000