Element 9

Partnership working with families, carers and other stakeholders

Children and young people, their families and the wider community will benefit from high-quality, integrated support, with professionals working together to meet their varied needs. A key task is to broaden participation, particularly by those individuals or groups identified as vulnerable or ‘hard-to-reach’, whatever their circumstances.

Appropriate provision will involve forging effective links with a range of other partners, agencies and services within both the local authority and the local community.

Parents, carers and the wider family are central to children and young people’s wellbeing and development. Providers and practitioners have a key role to play in supporting these important relationships. Any provider’s work with its families and within its wider community will be built on respect and sustaining an ongoing dialogue, developing the partnership begun by any previous practitioner(s).

Parents and carers should have access to information about any health, social care or education extended services offered by the provider or available in the locality that may provide opportunities to improve and extend their own skills.