Child Safeguarding: Analyzing the Impact of Multiagency Working

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of multiagency working on safeguarding children. It begins with an overview of the historical context and relevant legislation, including the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the Children Act 2004. The report then delves into a critical analysis and literature review, exploring the concepts of partnership and integration in multiagency settings. It examines the effectiveness of multiagency working, considering factors such as resource allocation, working relationships, and the challenges faced by professionals. The report also discusses early intervention strategies, the roles of various agencies (social services, education, health), and the importance of timely assessments. It highlights the significance of multiagency audits and the government's role in promoting coordinated policies. Furthermore, the report addresses barriers to multiagency development, the influence of attachment theory, and the importance of clear communication. Finally, it assesses the impact of multiagency working in the UK, considering the benefits for children, young people, and families, while acknowledging the challenges of language barriers and cross-authority coordination. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for effective multiagency collaboration to ensure child safety and well-being.

Impact of Multiagency working on
safeguarding children

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1....................................................................................................................................3
HISTORY AND LEGISLATION...................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 2....................................................................................................................................6
Critical Analysis and Literature Review..........................................................................................6
Multi-agency working..................................................................................................................6
Effectiveness of multi-agency working for safeguarding of children.........................................9

Topic: the impact of working together to safeguard children with regards to early help
intervention
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CHAPTER 2
Critical Analysis and Literature Review
Multi-agency working
As per the view of Cleaver and et.al., (2019) safeguarding of the children
requires mulAs per the view of Cleaver and et.al., (2019) safeguarding the children requires
multi-agency responses and it cannot be done by the local authorities alone. Therefore, multi-
agency working is where the professionals from different sector work mutually with sharing
objectives, also share the data as well as responsibilities in order to intervene early to prevent the
problems from which the children are suffering. On the other side, it is critically evaluated by
Dunne and Finalay, (2016). that multi-agency working is consist of two key concept which are
partnership and integration. In order to reduce the risk among children, cooperation between the
agencies is quite important and as a result, it leads to stop domestic abuse at the early stage. For
instance, in UK there are many incident related to domestic abuse victims in the family courts
and in order to resolve these issues, the specialist team is hire which is further establish by
strong multi-agency so that they will take actions accordingly and also provide responses to
improve the domestic abuse and safeguarding among children as well.
In addition to this, it is stated by Solomon, (2019) that as per the Criminal Justice Act,
2003 that requires the police, probation as well as prison service to work jointly and they are
considered as a responsible authority for each area of England and Wales. Therefore, these multi-
agency safeguarding hubs are arranged in which the services are co- located in order to improve
the information sharing and also respond the safeguarding issues in more effective way.
Therefore, these multi-agency always did not focus on the needs of children but sometimes, it
also solve issues related to adults also. On contrary, Winstone, (2019) critic that Social workers
will take action as soon as possible. Practitioner who have taken the action will see the child to
determine the best way to safeguard them and whether to seek an EPO. Moreover, legal advice
will be obtained before taking any legal action and also they have to decide when to seek an
EPO.
The Multi-agency working also provide timely access to a range of partner agency
information that further builds the picture and also enable to understand different types of risk as
well. The working of multi-agency is on the track because it is analysed that the professionals
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collect the information from different agency and then it further used within Multi-agency
safeguarding hub and then they decide to take actions accordingly. According to Wilkinson,
Cohen‐Hatton and Honey, (2019), government first understand the local need and then use the
same information in order to protect the child and it also include the multi- agency audit as well.
Therefore, this led to multi-agency audit and thus, it become a priority work area for the multi-
agency. It shows that it is not about what is happening in the front-line but to respond same in the
meantime is the work of multi-agency. This, clearly reflect that children may get support of
professionals who are working in multi-agency working. it ensure that the children and young
people who actually needed additional support are come from the right professionals.
According to Veerman (2016) in recent times, the working of multi-agency has received
so much attention as well as it has remains the focus of various political agendas. The white
paper of Government is Every Child Matters (ECM) that is Every Child Matters (ECM) includes
Children's Trust model of practice that describes that there are various types of professionals in
different sectors such as education health and social care etc. that are performing work in an
integrated way with the aim of promoting positive results and protecting young people as well as
children's. Working in the form of partnership is an important procedure for offering different
outcomes of ECM such as promoting economic well-being, being healthy, enjoying and
achieving, staying safe, making positive contribution etc. The practice of multi-agency working
is important . Multi agencies mostly focuses on family support and early intervention. They
have performed more than one initiative in relation with the areas such as crime prevention,
drugs abuse, behaviour problems. Other than this, other areas are domestic violence,
homelessness etc. As per the view of Pithouse, Lindsell and Cheung (2018) majority of the
agencies are involved in areas such as social services, education, health and some other agencies
mainly voluntary sector The approach to classify various types of working of multi-agency has
been to develop a hierarchical typology. It is often described as a journey towards the working of
multi-agency. It involves knowledge of what each partner does. It also involves service needs
where working in cross boundary is required. Other is implementing the projects and plans
related with the service. Further, involves coordinator who knows what is going on, active
process of coordination. From international point of view, there are more than 54 countries
across the globe that has made efforts to ensure more coordinated policies and provisions for
children. There are large number of projects that has been developed that focuses on the needs of
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children. There are various examples of projects such as Every child matters policy in UK and
Sure Start initiatives. The policy of Every child matters focuses on the whole system reform to
bring different services together such as at government level also. This will help to work together
more effectively to meet out the needs of children and young people. There are various examples
of the policies developed by government of UK that helps to put children's at the major focus in
respect of care planning with multi-agency that are working around them to deliver care. The
government has also placed local authorities to improve the well-being of all the children under
Children Act, 2004. The act has been introduced in England and Wales that focuses on the
collaboration of multi-agency.
Jopling and Vincent (2015) has pointed out in their paper that, the working of multi-
agency can be described as any aspect of work in areas such as health, education or community
setting that includes professionals that belongs from more than one agency that are working
together to protect the children. Multi-agency have to face many barriers in relation with their
development such a professionals belonging from different culture, style of working, funding and
resources, lack of appropriate training etc. Training to professionals belong to multi-agency is
essential to promote their combined regarding need of children's. When there is risk to the life of
children or there are chances of serious harm, multi-agency, social workers of local authority,
NSPCC should use their power regarding statutory child protection to act immediately for
securing the safety of children. Multi-agency will take planned emergency action following the
discussion related with immediate strategy. Multi-agency professionals will start a discussion
pertaining to strategy to conduct a planned emergency action.
As per the view of Puffett (2017) multi-agency have to conduct assessment on timely
basis for reflecting the requirements of the individual child. Further, social worker have to
perform the assessment as per section 17 of Children Act, 1989. While conducting the planning,
they have to determine the feelings and wishes of the child. The assessment will help to whether
the child is in any type of need, the type of services that are required and whether there is any
requirement to conduct any enquiries under the section 47 of Children Act, 1989. Multi-agency
like that work with children plays an important role in safeguarding the children.
As per the view of Hayden (2016) there are factors that influences the working of multi-agency.
It includes factors such as resources that are available for multi-agency work, the working
relationship between partners, management and governance, the process followed in multi-
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agency. The factor of working relationship include role demarcation, commitment Takou (2018)
critics that, if there is lack of commitment of the professionals working in multi-agency then it
will lead to major challenge.
Effectiveness of multi-agency working for safeguarding of children
According to Joseph and et.al., (2019) in UK, the government made different laws that are
related to children safeguarding and side by side, it also hires some multi-agency that provide
solutions related to different issues of children. Such that working with multi-agency will
eliminate the contradiction and tension between the policies as well as programs that will result
in more effective way and as a result, it may lead to generate the mutual trust and also increase
the understanding that will lead to take risk and enhanced potential for an innovation in order to
improve the results as well. In order to working with multi-agency there are different factors that
influence the entire working such that working relationship, multi- agency process, resources for
multi-agency work, management as well as governance.
On the other side, Tyson and Hall, (2019) critic that due to lack of commitment is also
considered as a challenge for the multi-agency working and as a result, the social workers
working in this agencies faces issues related to trust and that is why, it may lead to failing the
needs of the public. On the other side, multi-agency working provide benefits for the children
and young people as well as families because the multi-agency early identifies and it is more
easy to access for experts in order to improve the current situation. Shorrock McManus and
Kirby
(2019) stated that the multi-agency is the concept where professionals come from different
sectors but the biggest challenge they face such that they face language issues and as a result, the
effectiveness of multi- agency declining. Further, there is another problem such that cross-
authority working where the health authority as well as local authority is different. Therefore, as
a result they did not take proper action in order to minimize the issues related to children.
As per the view of Broad and Turnbull, (2019) it is critically evaluated that the
effectiveness of Multi-agency is measured with the decrease rate of children issues and if there is
clarity of purpose with connection of other agencies also helps to establish the link between each
other. Even the government also promoted the integrated and coordinated working with different
professionals so that the children safeguarding is promoted. Even there are some major acts and
policies are included such that Social Service Act, 1970 under which the council's of social work
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and different care provision are included. Moreover, there are many laws or polices are made
which give the right to protect child from exploitation and abuse and therefore, the multi-agency
also deemed and encourage government to made different laws in order to protect the children
from abuse etc. Therefore, it is realized that with the multi-agency support, the government
identified different problems of children and with the help of professionals, they take immediate
action in order to overcome the problem and provide safeguarding to children as well.
In addition to this, the social worker also faces different issues related to working in the
multi-agency such that building a relationship. But in order to improve the same, Attachment
theory works and played an important role especially while working with children. Such that it is
further critically analysed by Bell, (2018) that children who have experienced loss have tough
time to grow properly. The multi-agency workers faces issues in relation to the exchange of
communication because the there is lack of clarity in their roles and responsibility of the
professionals. Due to which the professionals faces trouble in exchange of valuable information
to each other. The less information availability adversely impact on the coordination and
integration for the support and safety of children from domestic abuse. As to improve this
challenges the policies should implemented to guide and manages the work of professionals to
improve their skills in management of multi agencies.
As per the views of author Bell (2018) another challenge for multi agency workers is to address
both child welfare and domestic abuse. This is because the professionals need to focus on the
both child and adult abuse service response. As in the domestic abuse it often some times
overlaps on the child abuse, issue like mental health problem, alcohol etc. the complexity faced
by multi agency professionals is that different understanding and disagreements about the issues
are addressed in different ways and is referred as domestic abuse.
According to the author Toros and LaSala, (2018) the multi-agency worker may face issue
and challenges in regarding to the policymakers, facing practitioners and families. As child
protection is under great pressure that has faced issue in relation to funding and increment in
demand of services. There is urgent needs to find the solution for professionals in multi agency
of child care. The professionals needs make small changes that can make big difference for the
children which impact on the families and children to reduce their sham and guilt and improve
the children life experience rather than keeping unrealistic expectations and grandiose.
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As per the views of author Bell (2018) the multi agency faces challenges in regarding to
improve the life of children who had bad experience in their life. The professional challenge is to
improve the skills or develop new skill in the children to make the life of children better then
earlier it was due to which less children will require the child protection plan. As the
professionals faces challenges when society blame to multi-agency child care for not being
responsible in their services. The society immediately blame to professionals of social care. It is
very difficult to get people to be comfortable with risk in the wider ‘blame culture’, although
individual organisations and leaders within them can do something. And this is another role for
the Local Safeguarding Children Board.” Some practitioners do not have the skills to have
difficult conversations to initiate some early interventions themselves.
According to Bhabha (2018) multi-agency faces issue in providing targeted services to the
children to meet out their needs. It is a combined responsibility of agencies and organization to
protect and safeguard the welfare of all the children in the locality. As per section 11 of the
Children Act, 2004 it is the duty of agencies and organization to consider the requirement of
promoting well-being and welfare of the children when they are performing their functions.
Another challenge is that strong leadership is essential for making new arrangements in to bring
together different organization and agencies. The multi-agency arrangements are those that
respond to the local circumstances and agencies that perform their work in collaboration to each
other as they target to support the families and children. The method of safeguarding children
requires flexibility to respond towards the need of children's and promoting their welfare etc. The
working of multi-agency professionals has impact on service users, agencies etc. Another major
issue faced by the professionals working in multi-agency is that, high level of supervision is
required for implementing good multi-agency relationship. The development of confidence and
trust between partners is very complex. There are various multi-agency who are capable to
challenge each other. There are professionals who understand the process for intensifying the
concerns in respect of children and also for challenging the decisions in respect of children.
Taft (2015) critics that, another challenge faced by multi-agencies is that they require an
effective system to monitor their activities and also to evaluate the impact of their activities on
the experience and the progress of work on the children in local area. Further, professionals of
multi-agencies require to act on different areas of practice that requires monitoring and
controlling. Another major issue is that, there is requirement of having a clear understanding
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regarding what is going on in front-line practice. This will help to improve the quality of services
provided by multi-agency for safeguarding the children. It also influences the process of planning
adopted by these professionals that are working in different areas.
According to the author Burton and Reid (2017) there is a requirement of having the culture
of scrutiny and challenge that leads to the improvement in the area of safeguarding and
protecting the children's. This will help to maintain a focus on right issues related with protecting
children. Further, another issue is that, there is a need of creating right type of environment for
developing the culture of learning. Moreover, multi-agency also face challenge in involving
children in strategic developments. The level of engagement of children plays an important role
in the working of multi-agency Sanders and Thomas (2018) said that, it is the responsibility of
professionals involved in multi-agency to make efforts for improving the response of multi-
agency towards the children. There is a need to analyse the importance of protection to children's
and their families.
Harvey, Hornsby and Sattar (2015) critics that, there are various benefits of the working of
multi-agency. These agencies help in tackling the issues such as social and economic issues.
Further, they offer seamless services for safeguarding the children. Further, professionals from
different areas that work in multi-agencies plays an important role in solving the problems based
on the analysis of need of local are people. Moreover, they also help wider communities and
service users. Other than this, partnerships also help to eliminate the tensions between
interventions, programmes and policies that results in securing better value for safeguarding
children. There are various benefits for service users also that means for children's. The multi-
agency provide quick access to the services, increased focus on intervention and need to access
specialist services. These agencies also help young people and children to remain in local
communities that is attending local schools or live at home. Further, professionals belonging
from different areas that form multi-agency provide better support to young people as well as to
children. Further, they play major role in improving educational attainment. There are two major
aspects of the impact of working of multi-agency that is providing better access of the services an
having more focus on the intervention.
According to the Trotman and Tucker, (2018) Multi agency working is the most effective
key effective safeguard and child protection act which is very necessary to get the good
outcomes. Apart from that, it helps to make the services more effective and good which gives the
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good impact on the overall system and also makes the good outcomes for the children protection
act. Child welfare is the important target which gives the positive impact on the overall system
which is accountable for the society. Apart from this, duties of the children protection is placed
on the local authorities which can be discharged with the full operation. The main purpose of
multi-agency is to protect the children act and safe the security purposes. Multigrain like clinical
commission group, local authorities’ non-profit organization. As per the Wood, (2016) All such
agencies take the charge of children protection by offering the different services to them.
However, another purpose of children safeguarding is to promoting the welfare of every child
services. It gives good impact on the children which mainly focus on the overall system and
helps to take the decision on the behalf of children. All practitioners should also need to follow
the regulations imposed by the government in the best performing manner. Besides, such kinds
of agencies also protect children from the discrimination practices and take strict action against
those. In other words, children safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone living in the society
to keep them safe and secure. According to the Wood, (2016) All other companies worked
together to provide necessary help to those children. This statutory guidance sets out key roles
for individual organization and agencies to deliver the all possible services for children
safeguarding.
As per Luckock, Barlow and Brown (2017) it has been inclusion of local level which will
provide the dynamic response within and across the geographical area which are mostly create
confident between people. who are participating in the improvement. It is mainly influencing the
other partnership working and promote their effective relationship with multi-agencies. This
agency engages with the local safeguarding partnership within social community which
providing the valuable opportunities. In this way, it can be proposed the policies, procedures and
method for working to coordinate with children and their families. Every agency will drive and
oversee by effective quality assurance and reviews through evidence. It is unable to focus on the
affects of young people, children etc. its multi-agency is finding the reason behind problem and
give proper response during emergency trends in either based on locally, nationally and
regionally. It can be easily measured the data and information about the condition of child. The
relevant multi-agencies whose involvement towards safe guarding and always believed to
promote the welfare of local young people, children. In this way, agencies are working within
different arrangement with using statutory guidance or legislation. It may involve different
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members, who are having proper responsibility to work with collaboratively and give proper
support of children and their families. Particular thought about the given nature of agencies and
its populations, in this way, they are nominated a person of particular areas to address challenges
and issues among young people, children etc. it always focused on the supporting at the situation
of trafficking, slavery and radicalisation etc. it mainly reflects reviews of community within
environment. strategic leaders of multi-agency shall form the specific membership and dividing
their specific role in proper manner. They are making strategic to implement for providing
information and delivered to another one. It also created a leadership group which mainly
supports and coordinated with working of different multi-agency. The coordination always
supports to young people for provide right direction so that they can easily understand situation
and condition of life. This type of relevant or multi-agency corporate with safeguarding
partnership and act as per arrangement that would be made by members. In this way, it is also
expected to evolve the relevant agencies that may change thinking of parents and child.
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