Partner agencies

Shropshire County Council has recognised that because of the size, complexity and sparsity of Shropshire, partnership working is key to delivering a better quality of life for people. Strong local partnerships are key to our success. We know that early intervention can only be delivered through all agencies, including the voluntary sector, working together.

Shropshire Children’s Trust is at the heart of this, and through their commitment to the Trust, all agencies are engaged in the process of cultural change, working to ensure that children and young people are better supported within universal services wherever possible, and that targeted services are available to meet more complex needs. The Children’s Trust is committed to monitor, on a quarterly basis, the performance of all partners in meeting the ten agreed priorities.

Partnership working is particularly well established with the Primary Care Trust. Shropshire’s Children’s Trust determines major work programmes for a number of Joint Commissioning Groups, including those with a clear focus on early intervention: Children with Disabilities, CAMHS and Drugs (Substance Misuse).

All Trust members were part of a wider group of partners engaged with the ISA programme. The Shropshire ISA group met monthly up until July 2005, as part of the Every Child Matters: Change for Children agenda. As the focus now moves to our new Multi-Agency Teams, with ISA as the infrastructure to promote multi-agency working, the Shropshire ISA group has been replaced with:

• A Multi-Agency Strategic Group, with senior representation from the County Council, Health, Connexions, Youth Offending Service, and including our Joint Commissioner for Children’s Services; this group ensures the ongoing strategic development of Multi-Agency Teams and direct links to the Children’s Trust.
• An operational group with representatives from all partner agencies, including the voluntary sector, who will progress the day to day management of these teams to ensure effective and co-ordinated integrated delivery of prevention services.

Regionally we continue to have a successful working relationship with various organisations including: Shropshire Fire and Rescue, Sure Start, Connexions, Barnardos, West Mercia Police and Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust.

Nationally we continue working in partnership with other former Trailblazers and the DCSF. We share good practice, access a forum to discuss issues that arise, and continue to inform policy development with the DCSF on the CAF, information sharing guidance and performance management.

We take every opportunity to share our good practice, and learn from others, through national organisations.