Evaluation of Integrated Working

In 2004 Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire County Council commissioned Jocelyn Jones at Mindful Practice to undertake an external evaluation of their Information Sharing and Assessment (ISA) trailblazer 'Team Around the Child' project.

The qualitative study looked at the processes and practices around information sharing, common assessment (CAF), and the 'Team around the Child' model of integrated working in the two areas during the period 2004-2006.

Whilst the sample group was relatively small we believe this is possibly the first piece of research involving families, children and young people to explore the impact of the Every Child Matters policy, at an early stage of implementation.

There are key learning points for our practice which we will be taking forward and some common messages which include:

• listening to children and young people
• involving children and young people
• the right people being involved at the right time
• coordinated support
• the lead professional is critical to the success of coordinating and monitoring the partnership with families

These help to reinforce the current Every Child Matters guidance.

In addition to the full report there are key findings documents which include the top messages from children and young people, parents and practitioners. A poster has been created for practitioners cross Telford and Wrekin to easily access the top 10 messages from children and young people.