Collaborative solutions or new policy problems

Exploring multi-agency partnerships in education and health work

Bibliographic Data

ID11488201
AuthorsLinda Milbourne (corresponding author), Sheila Macrae (King's College London), Meg Maguire (0000-0002-6472-7685, Centre for Public Policy Research)
Year2003
Volume18
Issue1
Pages19-35
Publication date2003-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Education Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0268-0939 • E-ISSN: 1464-5106
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/268093032000042182
OpenAlexW2129845858
LanguageEN
Citations received38
References cited20

Since coming to power in 1997, two successive Labour Governments in the UK have actively attempted to tackle the problem of what they have called 'social exclusion'. Their argument has been that social problems, which are overlapping and inter-related, need 'joined-up' policy solutions. For example, poor housing and low income can contribute towards and exacerbate lack of success in schooling and need to be tackled simultaneously. The Labour Government has argued that what is needed is a multi-agency partnership response which harnesses the strengths and expertise of a variety of welfare perspectives. This 'partnership' approach currently, characterizes social welfare policy-making in the UK. This paper critically explores the perceptions and experiences of those involved in one such multi-agency partnership which has been established to challenge an aspect of social exclusion: the exclusion of children from primary schools. At the same time, the paper examines the ways in which policy is constructed and enacted by those charged with its implementation. Initially, current policies are considered in respect of social exclusion focusing on some problems and dilemmas of multi-agency partnerships, as highlighted in other research. Drawing on data from one study, this paper goes on to examine partnership in one specific context, which combines health, education and social work in an inner-city primary school setting. Finally, it is argued that, if multi-agency partnerships are to achieve their potential, greater understanding of the difficulties involved in implementing new policies in such contexts needs to be considered at the outset

Agency (philosophy · Argument (complex analysis · Context (archaeology · Economic growth · Economics · General partnership · Government (linguistics · Political science · Public policy · Public relations · Social exclusion · Social science · Sociology · Homelessness and Social Issues · Law · Medicine · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Social Work Education and Practice

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub