Multi-Agency Working - Teaching Expertise

New research has highlighted the benefits of the Common Assessment Framework in helping agencies work together to provide positive outcomes for families

Tracey Eldridge-Hinmers looks at how changes to the guidance will affect schools’ duties in relation to information sharing and the prevention of bullying

Many staff in schools work with other agencies from time to time, such as health and social services. Here we outline training that is beneficial to all staff working with children in a multi-agency environment

In our last issue, we considered some important principles of multi-agency working and how to establish good relationships amongst professionals from a range of different services and backgrounds. This issue, we consider how SENCOs, as key workers, can organize productive and worthwhile meetings with colleagues

Following on from the last issue where we considered how to build good parent-school relationships, this issue we look at collaborative working with professionals from a range of agencies and how to get the best out of joint working

A holistic approach to supporting young people's health is led by the school-based health adviser at Newall Green School, Manchester, who embraces the whole child and the family. Neil Wilson, headteacher, discusses

This story of a 14-year-old who was being groomed and in danger of sexual exploitation illustrates the importance of multi-agency child protection

A youth intervention officer, Bruce Newman, discusses his work with Schools Multi Agency Resource Team (SMART) and the approaches he uses to work with young people, including restorative justice

Beryl Burkitt describes how her school's multi-professional team (MPT) enables joined-up working and aims to support learners

The protection of older young people, particularly from the ages 16 to 18, can be overlooked. One serious case review of the suicide of a 16-year-old girl highlights the issues involved, explains Jenni Whitehead

What steps should you take when you believe that a pupil is displaying symptoms that are deliberately induced or fabricated? Jenni Whitehead summarizes revised guidance for how schools should deal with this type of abuse, and stresses the importance of inter-agency communication

Jo McShane invite readers to consider multi-agency or multi-professional working with schools from the perspective of an enthusiastic apprentice, who realizes the value that 'joined-up thinking' offers

How can outreach work effectively engage hard-to-reach community members? Partnership working and forward thinking has been successful in breaking down barriers to participation, as Nazia Hussain, project manager for Keighley extended schools cluster in Bradford, explains read more

Multi-agency working to support vulnerable young people can be an important strand of extended school provision, says Lisa McClarence, who gives an overview of the counselling work she does in schools

An new report on child deaths and serious injury examines the problems of inter-agency working. Jenni Whitehead looks at some of the implications for schools read more

Recent government legislation has created new opportunities for multi-agency working in addressing and reducing exclusions from schools, says headteacher Neil Berry

Some of the key success factors in the development of extended schools provision across a cluster are discussed by Dave Dunkley, headteacher at Coleshill Heath Full Service Extended School in Solihull, and Ruth Shand, lead officer for extended services at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council read more

Working in a multi-agency environment to positively engage targeted young people, Paul Rogers explains why no two days are ever the same

Bill Goler examines how the Common Assessment Framework is working in practice and how SENCOs can and should be involved in its implementation

Headteacher Bernadette O’Brien describes the core themes of extended provision at Priory School and Sports College

Schools, colleges and early years settings are seen as having a major role to play in the plans and policies set forward in this new document read more

Two recent policy reviews have established the government’s priorities for spending on public services that help disabled and disadvantaged pupils

Headteacher Anne Clark looks at why it is so important for schools to establish effective links with outside agencies

Liz Rowbotham looks at how extended services have worked for one community college read more

An Emergency Protection Order (EPO) authorizes a local authority to remove a child to accommodation provided by the local authority and keep him there read more

Linda Bartholomew and Cathy Kennedy describe their initiative to capitalize on the links which health visitors can create between early years providers and families read more

Steve Adams of the NSPCC looks at the sorts of training that different members of staff require and shares some ideas for successfully carrying it out

A section 37 report is a measure of last resort, which the judge was anxious to avoid in the case of F (family proceedings: section 37 investigation) [2006] 1FLR 1122, Sumner J – reported by Michael Segal read more

Looking at the benefits and challenges of different models for providing childcare and early education service in children’s centers and extended schools read more

The government's guidance is helping different agencies to share information but problems persist, as Dai Durbridge reports read more

Jenni Whitehead investigates a new IT-based system of sharing information between key agencies read more

Are child protection practices and procedures are adequate in cases of domestic violence and parental substance misuse? read more

What affect did the New Relationship with Schools (NRwS) have on schools and school improvement? Headteacher Trevor Bailey takes a critical look at its impact

A learning partner can help you influence your organization to move in a more emotionally literate direction, as Peter Sharp, director of learning for MouchelParkman, explains read more

Professional teams can make the agenda for change work, says Dr. Nick Johnson OBE. read more

Jenni Whitehead discusses the issue of young people at risk of abuse through prostitution. read more

Counselling is often touted as a solution to challenging behavior and as a way of meeting needs that are beyond the scope of a school’s pastoral care mechanisms. But is it? Adrian King, independent health education consultant and qualified counsellor looks at what it can realistically deliver. read more

Claire Maxwell and Ian Warwick highlight some ways in which student mental health is being addressed in colleges of further education

If Jane’s story was true she had to be removed from a situation where she was at risk. But if it wasn’t true, was there a danger of making things even worse? A former teacher describes the tensions generated by the problem

A new report confirms that joined-up working has been a positive and significant experience for the majority of those involved. read more

Until recently G&T education was piecemeal and largely ignored in Northern Ireland. David Ryan describes the start of a strategy for G&T education at Belfast’s Education and Library Board. read more

Every Disabled Child Matters is a three-year campaign by organizations working with disabled children and their families. Its objectives and proposed actions for change are summarized below

The new and rapidly changing context of the Every Child Matters agenda presents challenges and opportunities for the role of the educational psychologist. This forms the backdrop against which a review of the functions and contribution of educational psychologists has been conducted. read more

Dr Barbara Spender considers the key questions underpinning Every Child Matters implementation from first considerations about individual school priorities, through visibility in specific curriculum areas, to evaluation and measurement of success

The government’s campaign to persuade more schools to offer extended services continues with the publication of new guidance. read more

Schools should be at the center of professional support for children and heads should champion change, argues Nick Johnson OBE. read more

What lessons can be learned from the community education movement to help ensure the success of extended schools? Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), looks at this issue

Roger Smith explains the background to the Common Assessment Framework and how you can make it work in your school. read more

For any SENCO looking at how SEN is defined, identified and assessed in her own local education authority and elsewhere, it soon becomes apparent that the identification and assessment of SEN is not only complex but confused. Michael Farrell suggests that SENCOs can contribute to clarifying our understandings of SEN. read more

Following the publication of a report by Eleanor Stobart, the Government has announced an increase in action to tackle child abuse linked to accusations of 'possession' and 'witchcraft'. read more