Improving outcomes for families in Milton Keynes

Research has established that providing early help is beneficial for vulnerable and troubled children, adults and families. Moreover the notion of early help is a current and strong driver for policy and practice in the provision of health and social care. A core aspect and challenge to Early Help is the establishment of integrated working practices between different agencies operating at different scales (i.e. local, regional, national). “A shared responsibility and the need for effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise are required if children are to be protected from harm and their welfare promoted” (Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group, 2013:5). It is recognised that a host of organisations and professional groups are involved when children and families need help but often inefficient and ineffective partnership working practices negatively impact upon outcomes for families, professionals and other stakeholders. With respect to early help for children, young people and families in distress, partnership working is a critical task for councils, police forces, health authorities and NHS trusts (Sixsmith et al. 2014). Partnership working is a vital tool to address challenging policy and operational problems when dealing with children, young people and families with complex social care needs. It is also an effective way of streamlining scarce resources. However, working in partnership, can be a challenging; and establishing and sustaining long-term, operationally-sound partnerships requires a substantial amount of time and human resources (Audit Commission, 1998).