Working together or pulling apart?
The National Health Service and child protection networks
By Carol Lupton, Nancy North and Parves Khan
Published
Sep 26, 2001Page count
224 pagesISBN
978-1861342447Dimensions
216 x 138 mmImprint
Policy Press
Working together or pulling apart?
In the context of the 'cross-cutting' policy ambitions of the current Labour government, Working together or pulling apart? examines the contribution of the NHS to the multi-agency and inter-professional child protection process. Applying the insights of policy network and inter-organisational analysis, the text:
provides detailed information on the current role played by a range of health professionals within child protection;
investigates the nature and operation of the central policy community and local provider networks;
considers the tensions arising from differences of professional power and knowledge, organisational cultures and agendas, and governance and regulation;
examines the impact of wider socio-political changes on the operation of the child protection process, at both central and local levels.
Working together or pulling apart? will be essential reading for all those working in child protection, at both strategic and frontline levels, within the NHS and other agencies. In addition, it will be of interest to staff and students on undergraduate or postgraduate courses in health, social work, public and social policy.
"... the authors of this slim volume manage to convey an impression of the current state of child protection in the UK that few committed professionals will wish to ignore." British Journal of Social Work
"We should not ignore the findings of this text." Health Matters
"... designed to make health service managers sit up and listen ... will help all to identify the areas in which progress is vital if tragedies like Victoria Climbie's are to be foreseen and prevented." British Journal of Social Work
"... a timely publication that will be of interest to both child protection practitioners and policy-makers alike ... this well-researched and meticulously referenced book will also be of interest to social policy students." Health Service Journal
"This is an astonishingly wide-ranging and perceptive book. At its heart lies a sensitive and critical exploration of the flaws in the relationship between health and social care policy makers and practitioners. The message for those aiming to break down barriers in the public sector may not be welcome, but they would be foolish to ignore it." Martin Davies, Professor of Social Work, University of East Anglia, Norwich
Carol Lupton is the Director of the Social Services Research and Information Unit and Reader in Applied Social Science at the University of Portsmouth.
Nancy North is Principal Lecturer in Health Policy at the University of Portsmouth.
Parves Khan is a Research Fellow in the Centre for International Social and Community Development at the University of Southampton.
Contents: Introduction; Models and metaphors: the theoretical framework; Policy communities and provider networks in child protection; Knowledge and networks; Accountability, agencies and professions; Power and politics in the NHS; Reluctant partners: the experience of health and social care collaboration; A system within a system: the role of the Area Child Protection Committee; Agents of change? The role of the designated and named health professionals; Sleeping partners: GPs and child protection; Health visitors and child protection; 'Healthy' networks? NHS professionals in the child protection front line; Conclusion.