Inter- and Intra-Agency Co-Operation in Safeguarding Children: A Staff Survey

In the UK, the co-operation of professionals and their organisations in safeguarding children has been widely criticised. Over-bureaucratisation and lack of support for staff are main concerns. In two counties of North Wales, 210 employees from statutory and voluntary agencies took part in a questionnaire survey on local administrative arrangements and working culture. Insufficient administrative support (40 per cent), funding (33 per cent) and time (28 per cent) were cited by respondents. Staff feeling well supported in coping with work stress rated the quality of co-operation with other agencies significantly higher. Co-operation on agency level was correlated to the use of common terminology and the presence of effective conflict resolution mechanisms between agencies, but also to fair treatment of staff and appropriate administrative arrangements for child protection cases within the particular agency. Concerted efforts will be necessary within Local Safeguarding Children Boards and their member agencies. The results underline calls to strengthen professional judgement and responsibility.