Joining up children's services: Safeguarding children in multi-disciplinary teams

Abstract

In this article we reflect on the complexity and the contested nature of the roles of multi-disciplinary teams working with children. This is an increasingly important issue in the current UK child welfare policy environment. The article uses the theories of Etienne Wenger to understand data gathered from five multi-disciplinary teams working with children. We explore key issues relating to location; information sharing; models of understanding; and professional identities. We hope to demonstrate that the teams addressed tensions creatively through their engagement with diversity while at the same time developing common team values. We argue that effective strategies for making multi-disciplinary teams work will combine inter-agency issues with internal team-specific aspects. Copyright ©2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.