As professionals working in the foundation years, we all do our bit by taking on the responsibility of partnership working with our colleagues in health, social care and early years services to support better outcomes for children and families.

For partnership working to be successful, professionals must be active in working alongside, sharing expertise and knowledge with colleagues. Partnership working is everyone’s responsibility – so all of us need to think about how we can initiate working together.

Crucial steps to successful integrated working are local systems that bring services together and the sharing of information. Effective information sharing promotes a common understanding of need, assessment and referral systems.


Information Sharing

Information Sharing Matters: online education resource
Information Sharing Matters is a free online education programme designed for the early years workforce and healthcare professionals about information sharing in early years. It is designed to improve your knowledge, skills and understanding of the benefits of effectively sharing information in a professional context.

Information Sharing in the Foundation Years
In 2011, the Government commissioned Jean Gross to lead a task and finish group of early years and health professionals to explore on-going barriers to information sharing in the early years and to identify examples of good practice.

The report is accompanied by a Ministerial letter to Jean Gross and her group welcoming the report and the good practice gathered.


Case studies

Islington
Bowthorpe Children’s Centre
A Team Approach at The Chai Centre, Burnley
A Team Approach at a Warwickshire Children’s Centre Run by Action for Children
Training Cascade Model, Luton
Joint Professional Development in Wakefield
Speech, language and communication in Blackpool
Training in Burnley
Joint training in Bowthorpe, Norfolk
Example of First Visit forms, Warwickshire Early Implementer Site
County-wide Health Initiatives in Lancashire
Information Sharing Agreement at Liverpool City Council
Blackpool Payment by Results and Information Sharing
East Lancashire Health Coordinator Team
Warwickshire’s Partnership Agreement
Integrated Approaches in Bristol