Role, Significance and Impact of Multi-Agency Working in Childcare Essay

Role, Significance and Impact of Multi-Agency Working in Childcare - Essay Example In work with disabled children, families experience better relationships with services along with improved level of access to them and improved quality of life with reduced stress (Sloper, cited in Improving outcomes for children 2007). This is also true in the aspect of healthcare. In projects targeting mental health of children, there has been a reduction in the proportion of children with clinically significant problems, with children showing better involvement with school (Kurtz & James, cited in Improving outcomes for children 2007). Multi-agency working involves patient counselling, taking a great deal of time and care in dealing with children as well as parents when necessary. The counsellors are facilitators of information who helps sensitive sharing of information in a very respectful manner without violating confidentiality (McGinnis 2008, p.128). Collaborative working and information sharing among the different services is a key factor in enhancing children's welfare. Frequent and personal contacts of practitioners from different agencies with each other help resolve issues of concern (Cleaver et al. 2008, p.105). Collaborative working of services helps recognise the different needs of a child and the relationships between the different aspects of a child's life. Information sharing helps in early identification of children's additional needs to help them reach their potential. Identifying with parents and sharing information with them play a key role in understanding children and enhancing their well-bein g. Videotapes of children both at play and at work, at home and in school, can be exchanged which help to keep parents up-to-date on the children's progress as well as help staff to understand certain behaviour of children which they would have found difficult to comprehend. Information sharing also helps the staff in having an insight into the children's cultural background. This can help in the children's development in the cognitive and socio-behavioural aspects (Whalley & Dennison 2001, p.137). It is the goal of the Government that by 2010 all schools will provide access to a core offer of extended services including childcare, study support activities, parenting support and specialised support services with wider community access to information and communication technology, sports and arts facilities, and adult learning (Extended schools 2009). Extended support can bring about a significant improvement in children by identifying their individual problems, which they face outside of school and are intractable, and tackle them effectively, thus enabling teachers to give more attention to teaching. These services can also support parents through information sessions and parenting programmes, thus ensuring better parental involvement in the children's activities. Positive impact in preventative work Multi-agency involvement in preventative work has brought about positive results in children including improved behaviour, better relationships, enhanced education and increased well-being. The results of the On Track programme effectively demonstrate these effects. On Track is a research-based preventative programme for crime reduction, which through multi-agency partnerships