Improving Children's Services Networks : Lessons from Family Centres

by Tunstill, Jane; Aldgate, Jane; Hughes, Marilyn

• ISBN13: 9781843104612
• ISBN10: 184310461X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-30
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub

Summary

Designed to meet a range of day care needs for individuals, families or wider communities, Family Centres are central to the UK government's provision of effective child care services. The study of family centres ? monitoring their objectives, examining key challenges faced and evaluating approaches to practice ? is fundamental to the delivery of effective, evidence-based services. This book details and evaluates expert research into the developing role of family centres in the light of current political and social trends including, the Every Child Matters legislation. It outlines the different user groups serviced by family centres; the various combinations of services provided and the contribution that these are making to positive outcomes for children; major tasks facing family centres such as optimizing access to services; and important partnerships between family centres and other services such as education and health care.

Author Biography

Jane Aldgate is Professor of Social Care in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at The Open University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	7	(2)
An Introduction to the Study	9	(9)
The Current Agenda for Children and Family Services	18	(15)
Building Links and Partnerships with Other Agencies	33	(23)
Family Centres and Social Services: Tensions and Opportunities	56	(18)
Delivering Services: The Experience of Family Centres	74	(13)
Centres as a Gateway to Other Services: The Experience of Family Centres	87	(13)
The Importance of Centre Managers and Staff	100	(13)
Parents' Perspectives on Family Centres	113	(9)
Family Centres in Transition	122	(16)
Family Centres: An Afterword	138	(4)
Appendix: The Design, Collection and Analysis of the Data	142	(7)
References	149	(4)
Subject Index	153	(4)
Author Index	157