Information and joining up services: The case of an information guide for parents of disabled children

Description

There have been numerous government initiatives in relation to providing quality services for disabled children and their families. One key area in need of further development, identified by both service professionals and service users, is the provision of accessible information for parents, carers and others who work with disabled children. Easily accessible information is particularly important in the context of changing services and multi-agency working. This report addresses the issue by providing: an overview of current policy and practice in the provision of services for disabled children and their families; a "how to" guide to best practice for the production of an information guide to services - from planning and production to evaluation and analysis; and evaluation of an information guide from the perspective of both parents and professionals. This report is a resource for anyone involved in providing information about services to disabled children and their families, including staff in social services departments, local education authorities, voluntary organisations and policy makers in local and central government. It will also be of interest to academics and students of social policy, social work, health and social care, and to professionals wishing to develop information resources in other service areas.

Bridgette Wessels is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Sheffield and was formerly Senior Research Associate, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. She has conducted research in numerous areas of inclusion and exclusion and the changing nature of service provision, which includes understanding information within such contexts. Val Bagnall was Interagency Development Worker (Children with Disabilities), Health and Social Services, Newcastle upon Tyne, she is now the Partnership Coordinator for the Children's Service at St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle upon Tyne. She originally trained as a psychiatric social worker and subsequently worked in developmental posts in health, social services and in the voluntary sector. Her current interest is in being part of the Government's 'working together' agenda to achieve joined up services responsive to the needs of families.