Report
An Exploration of Different Models of Multi-agency Partnerships in Key Worker Services for Disabled Children: Effectiveness and costsGreco, V., Sloper, P., Webb, R. and Beecham, J.
2005
Department for Education and Skills Research Report, vol. 656
Department for Education and Skills Publications, Nottingham
Abstract
A key worker has been described as a named person whom the family can approachfor advice about, and practical help with, any problem related to the disabled child.
Provision of 'key workers' or 'care coordinators' for disabled children and their families, working across health, education and social services, has often been recommended in policy guidance, most recently in the Children's National Service Framework. Up to now, research has shown that less than a third of families with severely disabled children have a key worker, but compared to those who do not have a key worker, those who do show benefits in terms of relationships with and access to services and overall quality of life. However, as more key worker services have been developed, different models of service and ways of working have proliferated and there has been no research on the outcomes for families of different types of services. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of different models of multi-agency key worker services.
