Multi-Agency Working for Children's Needs

Bringing together schools, health professionals, social care, and families to provide joined-up support for children with complex or overlapping needs.

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What Is Multi-Agency Working?

Multi-agency working describes the process by which professionals from different services, such as education, health, and social care, come together to support a child and their family. It is grounded in the recognition that many children's needs do not fit neatly into a single service area, and that the best outcomes are often achieved when professionals work collaboratively rather than in isolation.

The SEND Code of Practice 2015 emphasises the importance of joint working between education, health, and social care in identifying and meeting children's needs. Similarly, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) sets out the expectation that agencies will work together to promote the welfare of children, share information appropriately, and provide coordinated support.

For schools, multi-agency working might involve liaising with speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), paediatricians, social workers, and other professionals. The school often plays a coordinating role, particularly when it comes to bringing together the different strands of support for a child.

Effective multi-agency working requires clear communication, shared understanding of roles and responsibilities, and a child-centred approach where the needs and views of the child and family are kept at the heart of the process.

Team Around the Child and Early Help

The Team Around the Child (TAC) model is an approach where a group of professionals who are involved with a particular child come together as a team, with the family, to plan and coordinate support. The TAC is not a formal legal structure but rather a way of organising multi-agency input so that it is coherent and responsive.

Early Help is a related concept that refers to providing support to children and families as soon as difficulties are identified, rather than waiting for problems to escalate to the point where statutory intervention is needed. Many local authorities have Early Help frameworks that set out how schools and other agencies can identify children who may benefit from additional support and coordinate a multi-agency response.

Schools often play a key role in initiating Early Help referrals, as they are well placed to notice when a child or family is beginning to struggle. The Early Help assessment typically involves gathering information from the family and from the professionals involved, identifying needs and strengths, and agreeing on a plan of action with clear roles and timescales.

It can be helpful for schools to develop strong relationships with their local Early Help teams and to familiarise staff with the referral process. Early and well-coordinated support can prevent difficulties from escalating and reduce the need for more intensive intervention later on.

Local Authority Processes and EHC Plans

When a child's needs are complex or severe, and the support available at SEN Support level is not sufficient, the school, parents, or a young person may request that the local authority carry out an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment. This is a statutory process set out in the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.

The EHC needs assessment involves gathering detailed information from the child's school, parents, and relevant professionals to build a comprehensive picture of the child's needs and the support required. If the local authority decides to issue an EHC plan, the plan will set out the child's needs across education, health, and social care, the outcomes that are being sought, and the specific provision that will be made.

Schools are involved throughout this process, from contributing evidence to the initial request, to implementing the provision set out in the plan, to participating in annual reviews. The SENCO typically takes the lead in coordinating the school's contribution, but effective multi-agency working means that health and social care professionals also provide their input and attend review meetings where appropriate.

Navigating local authority processes can sometimes feel complex, and many schools find it helpful to build relationships with their local authority SEND team, understand the criteria that are used for decision-making, and ensure that the evidence they submit is thorough and well-organised.

How ChildWize Supports Multi-Agency Collaboration

ChildWize is designed to facilitate the kind of joined-up working that leads to the best outcomes for children. By connecting schools, families, and specialists on a single platform, ChildWize makes it easier to share information, coordinate assessments, and ensure that everyone involved in a child's support is working from the same understanding.

Schools can use ChildWize to commission assessments and consultations from specialists across a range of disciplines. The reports and recommendations generated through these sessions can feed directly into the evidence base for EHC plan applications, annual reviews, and multi-agency planning meetings.

For families, ChildWize provides a clear route to accessing specialist support, which can be particularly valuable when NHS waiting times are long or when a family is unsure where to turn for help. The platform also supports communication between parents and professionals, helping to keep the family's voice central to the process.

ChildWize's external advisor accounts are designed specifically for school-based professionals such as SENCOs, safeguarding leads, and pastoral staff, giving them a dedicated space to manage referrals, track progress, and communicate with specialists on behalf of the children they support.

Key Takeaways for Schools

Multi-agency working is most effective when it is well-coordinated, centred on the child and family, and supported by clear communication between all parties. Schools are often in the best position to bring together the different professionals involved in a child's life and to ensure that support is coherent and consistent.

Investing time in building relationships with local health, social care, and voluntary sector partners can pay dividends when it comes to securing timely and appropriate support for children. Understanding the Early Help and EHC plan processes, and knowing when and how to make referrals, are important skills for SENCOs and other school leaders.

It may also be worth considering how information is shared within and beyond the school. Effective multi-agency working depends on professionals having access to the right information at the right time, while always respecting the principles of data protection and confidentiality.

ChildWize can be a valuable tool in supporting multi-agency collaboration, providing a platform for schools to connect with specialists, share information, and coordinate support in a way that keeps the child's needs at the centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Team Around the Child approach?

Team Around the Child (TAC) is a multi-agency model where the professionals involved with a particular child come together as a team, with the family, to plan and coordinate support. It aims to ensure that different services work together effectively rather than in isolation.

When should a school make an Early Help referral?

Schools may consider an Early Help referral when they notice that a child or family is experiencing difficulties that go beyond what the school can address alone. This might include concerns about a child's wellbeing, behaviour, attendance, or development that suggest additional multi-agency support could be beneficial.

Who can request an EHC needs assessment?

Under the Children and Families Act 2014, a request for an EHC needs assessment can be made by the child's parent, the young person themselves (if over 16), or the school or other education setting. Anyone else can bring a child to the attention of the local authority, which must then consider whether an assessment is needed.

How does ChildWize support information sharing between agencies?

ChildWize provides a secure platform where schools, families, and specialists can share information, reports, and recommendations. This helps to ensure that everyone involved in a child's support has access to the same information, while respecting data protection requirements.

Can ChildWize specialists contribute to EHC plan evidence?

Yes. Assessments and reports produced by ChildWize specialists can be used as part of the evidence base for EHC needs assessments and annual reviews. Specialists can provide professional opinions on a child's needs and the provision required to support them.

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