Community and Inter-Agency Working - Essay Example

?COMMUNITY AND INTER-AGENCY WORKING Introduction Inter-agency working has in the recent past turned out to be a universal strategy for addressing emerging social, economic, and political challenges in the contemporary society. As defined, inter-agency working is a process in which different entities come together to solve emerging issues in a structured manner. The key aim of inter-agency working is purely to increase teamwork among different agencies by combining their resources and competency (Lalor, Ryan, Seymour & Hamilton 2007, p. 36). The drives to establish inter-agency working in children protection and welfare have been in existence since 19th century (Atkinson, Jones &Lamont 2007, p.92). Moreover, the improved understanding of the intricacy of children abuse and diverse definition of the term child abuse has called for collective involvement of several professionals in working out mechanisms of addressing the child abuse phenomenon. Professionals who are frequently and directly involved in addressing children welfare have drastically expanded to include: psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers, counsellors, volunteer agencies, and therapeutic organisations. Additionally, due to ever increasing cases of infringement of child rights, several governmental and non-governmental agencies have instituted strategies of working jointly to holistically educate the general public on significant of respecting child’s rights (Butler 2007, p.129). Inter-agencies that addresses children welfare issues have divided children needs into two broad concepts, children welfare services and children protection. However, the two broad concepts are all intended to deal with the ever increasing cases of children negligence, emotional physical abuse as well as increased cases of assault among young children. The essay below therefore intends to critically appraise an interagency working intended to address children issues in Ireland. Rationale Children abuse and neglect have over years turned out to be a universal setback in social development. Therefore, the involvement of several professionals to address these issues has become inescapable and timely. The rationale of involving several agencies is solving children health and social problem in Ireland is bases on the fact that, children abuse is a wide problem in the country which required combination of skills from different professionals (McInnes 2007, p. 89). Researchers have also confirmed that, the most effective way of helping children is through working together with several agencies to address family issues (McInnes 2007, p. 89). The involvement of several professionals is therefore presumed to be one of the most effective means of reaching family institutions. Moreover, the multifaceted nature of children abuse requires effective response that involves several agencies (Robinson, Atkinson & Downing 2008, p. 91). The raising high profile cases of severe child abuse that encompasses: Sexual, physical, emotional abuse and gross negligence of children requires instantaneous and collaborative approach which incorporates different skills and competency. Epidemiological Data For children to achieve cherishing, enjoyable, and productive life, they need to grow and develop in an environment which is free from abuse and harm. Children in most cases are the most vulnerable section of the population to all forms of abuses. As a result, it is the responsibility of the society members to ensure that, the existing laws and regulations offers maximum protection to children. However, despite the understanding of the societal responsibility in protecting children, cases of abuse have significantly increased in Ireland (Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, 2007, p. 678). In 2008, the reported cases of children abuse was 2, 164. This had increased from 1797 in 2006 and from 1978 in 2007. Among these cases, more than 80% of them were confirmed to be committed by family members, friends, and relatives. 12% of these cases were committed by powerful people, 5% from unknown people and 3% by teachers. In general there, the Ireland government received over 3,500 crimes against children in three years period (Indecon 2008, P. 911). Health records in Ireland also indicate that, people who are physically, sexual or emotional abused at childhood end up suffering from various mental and health complications. Over 30% of sexually abuse women have reported to be suffering from mental and sexual complications (Cawt 2008, p. 675). In most cases physically abuse children experiences growth and development problems which interfere with their academic performances (National Commission on Restorative Justice 2008, p. 97). Details of National Strategies Due to increased cases of children abuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Ireland department of health developed various policies with an aim of diminishing the menace. In 1987, the Department of Health established the first guideline on children abuse. The guideline included a very clear principle of inter-agency and multi-disciplinary involvement in addressing children needs by highlighting the important and need for co-operation between different practitioners in health sector. The introduction of official practice guideline and policy to incorporate inter-agency activities in Ireland Health Department has not only proved to be possible but also a desirable development in the country (Brown 2007, p. 239). After successful implementation of the 1987 guideline, the government introduced the Child Care Act of 1991. This was the overall legislation that governed children protection and welfare. The Act led to the establishment of Children Advisory Committee which comprised people with special interest and knowledge on matters affecting child’s need. The legislation also included representatives from various voluntary bodies that provided family support services and child care. The Act as well allowed the Department Of Health to offer financial support to the organisations that were aimed at addressing children welfare issues (Downes and Maunsell 2007, p. 89). The 1991 Act also provided a legislation basis for family social support by giving the Health Board the mandate of providing social support to children who have not experienced neglect or abuse but are potentially at risk of such experiences. To ensure a productive collaboration, the Ireland government also introduced “The notification of children abuse cases between health boards and the department of health in 1995” (Buckley, Whelan, and Carr & Murphy 2008). The policy was anticipated at ensuring that, all players in the children department were fully involved in children abuse crime cases in court (Brady Merriman & Canavan 2008, p. 97). In 1999, the Department of Health instituted its first comprehensive guidelines which ensured total protection of children welfare. The guidelines were developed by an inter-agency group that included: government representative, trade unions, university dons, and other non-governmental organisations. The main aim of these guidelines was to define the role and responsibilities of different professionals and disciplines in the field of children welfare and protection. The policy also emphasised on the need for mutual cooperation between different partners in the field of children protection. The policy as well expounded on the need for consistency between procedures and policies across voluntary, statutory agencies, and the Health Board. The guidelines were also intended at consolidating inter-agency co-operation by clarifying the responsibility of different agencies, coordinating communication process, and creating partnership arrangement between various agencies and disciplines (Children Acts Advisory Board 2012, p. 28) Key Agencies Involved There are a number of agencies that worked together toward ensuring adequate protection of children welfare in Ireland. Social work agencies were properly represented in inter-agency group. The main role of the social work agencies was to deal with traumatic incidences, confrontational responsibilities, as well as development of policies to address social issues among Ireland children. The statutory social workers especially those who are employed by Health Board were also equally presented in the body. Public Health Nurse Agencies also play an incredibly vital role in the inter-agency group. The responsibility of Public Health Nurses was to deal with issues that affected new born babies and their mothers. The Public Health Nurses as well held the responsibility of contacting the families that required social, health, or economic support. Public Health Nurses were also mandated with the responsibility of providing therapeutic services and general care services to the abused children. General Practitioners were as well key players in child protection activities. Their main role in the group was to provide general healthcare services to the affected families (Carroll & Meehan 2007, p. 37). They were also directly involved in policy making process and in offering therapeutic assistance to the affected families. Recording keeping on the reported child abuse cases was also the responsibility of the General Practitioners Agencies. Teachers were one of the greatest participants in the child protection activities. Agencies that were participated in addressing children social need received advice and guidance from teachers. Teachers as well played an exceptionally essential role in monitoring and supporting children both in school and in social settings. The final agency in the inter-agency body was children and families institutions. This group included the affected children and their families. In this body, family institutions held the mandate of providing moral and economic support to the affected child. In judicial proceedings, family members are as well expected to serve as witnesses. Strengths Inter-agency policy has proved to be extremely effective in minimizing child abuse and negligence in Ireland. Teamwork between different professionals and agencies led to the development of effective personal relationship which necessitated effective service delivery to the affected children. Polling of skills and resources as well allowed for comprehensive treatment and assessment of different crime cases. The incorporation of school institutions in the group helped other professionals such as social workers to have an opportunity to systematically interview children. Teamwork and effective policies also led to the introduction of efficient teamwork between all players thus creating a platform for immediate response. The generated mutual respect between various professionals in the group also helped in efficient achievement of the inter-agency goals. Inter-agency also led joint funding of several initiatives that were aimed at helping the affected children and families. Teamwork has also led to excellent outcomes as the children needs were holistically dealt with by using several multi-agency approaches. Weaknesses Initially, the level of dissatisfaction was high between the health practitioners and other agencies. This was especially the cases in the early stages of investigation. The inter-agency group was as well faced with a challenge of defining the role of every agency and professions in the group thus bringing about perplexity and conflict. Different agencies in the group also held different conflicting functions, practices, and organisational culture. This as a result brought about delays in decision making and in service delivery. There was also reported confusion between the differences that existing between the power and authority in decision making process. Health practitioners assumed powerful position over others thus bringing about decision making confusion and delays. The communication process in the group was also inadequate and ineffective. This was due to lack of clear communication structure between the group’s agencies. Different agencies that came together to address children issues had different policies and ideologies that governed their operations. Therefore, the emergence of different policies brought about confusion and conflict in coming up the most effective policy in the group. Limitations Despite it encouraging outcomes, the inter-agency group consistently encountered a challenge of misuse of power and status. Health practitioners underrated the role and contributions of other agencies due to their social status (Sloper 2009, p. 571). Secondly, some agencies had very few staffs thus undermining their ability to provide quality services to the affected families. The numbers of social workers were very few to offers psychosocial assistance to the affected families. Thirdly, the existing legislation brought about confusion in creating harmonious policies. This was specifically due to lack of common policies and legislation that governed the operations of the inter-agency group. Teachers were blamed by other agencies for punishing children. Social workers believed that, punishing children was against the child’s right and should be prohibited. Some agencies such as Public Health Nurses delayed effective service delivery due to delays in delivering their promises of linking the inter-agency group with family members Strategies for Improvement To improve its service delivery, the inter-agency group that was mandated with the responsibility of protecting children in Ireland ought to develop effective communication mechanism. Effective communication mechanism will as a result necessitate successful communication and immediate feedback. Secondly, the government through the Department of Health should define the role and responsibilities of each agency to reduce confusion and duplication of activities in the group. Thirdly, the inter-agency members should respect the skills and competence of every member. Effective power structure will as well be beneficial in minimising conflict over powers and responsibilities. Finally, every agency in the group should be committed towards achieving the group’s objectives. This will as a result minimise cases of delay in service delivery. 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Carroll, J. and Meehan, E., 2007, “The Children Court: A National Study”, Dublin: Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development Ltd. Cawt, U., 2008, “Framework for Integrated Planning for Outcomes for Families and Children”, Cooperation journals, 6, 12, 675-690 Children Acts Advisory Board, 2012, “Strategy 2008-2010”, Dublin: CAAB Downes, P. and Maunsell, C., 2007, “Evaluation of the Schools Completion Programme in the North East Inner City”, Dublin: Educational Resource Centre. Indecon, A., 2008, “Indecon Review of County/City Development Board Strategic Reviews and Proposals for Strengthening and Developing the Boards”, Dublin: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Lalor, K., Ryan, F., Seymour, M. and Hamilton, C., 2007, “Young People and Crime: Research, Policy and Practice”, Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology. McInnes, K., 2007, “A Practitioner’s Guide to Inter-agency Working in Children’s Centres: a Review of Literature”, London: Barnardos. 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