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An exemplary scheme? An evaluation of the integrated children's system

An exemplary scheme? An evaluation of the integrated children's system
An exemplary scheme? An evaluation of the integrated children's system
We outline selected central results from a formative evaluation of four pilot sites in England and Wales of the Integrated Children's System (ICS) – one part of the UK's e-Government strategy. We concentrate on the aspiration of the ICS towards ‘integration’ and ‘systematization’ of services within children's services, at local and national levels. We look in turn at, the use of the ICS as a foundation for aggregate statistical profiles; the experience and views of the social workers; and the implications of ICS for social work practice as exemplified in social workers' use of time. The evidence suggests substantial problems in accomplishing government policy aspirations in each of these areas. We review the likely reasons for these problems, and recommend a review of the ICS on the grounds that the difficulties are inherent rather than transitory, and have arisen at least in part from uncertainty as to whether the ICS is fit for purpose. The authors seek to promote the open and thoughtful debate that a major innovation of this nature requires.
integrated children's system, children's services, ICT, policy implementation
0045-3102
613-626
Shaw, Ian
20cfb797-359b-4db4-8052-19d3b6b61313
Bell, Margaret
836c2c8e-4f09-41a8-878a-f7f7620ca119
Sinclair, Ian
8bb94d53-80c3-49c7-9b74-264a810081a9
Sloper, Patricia
3ea05268-2f4b-4ee3-983d-8b171f22587f
Mitchell, Wendy
5a8da51c-6d11-40c7-8d17-faf324223bf4
Dyson, Paul
8244e61d-d1f3-40b1-ba15-9abbeaddd637
Clayden, Jasmine
01671282-eab3-4422-823f-d236ee39d562
Rafferty, Jackie
2c726b90-76db-4971-8ace-6442d2329c10
Shaw, Ian
20cfb797-359b-4db4-8052-19d3b6b61313
Bell, Margaret
836c2c8e-4f09-41a8-878a-f7f7620ca119
Sinclair, Ian
8bb94d53-80c3-49c7-9b74-264a810081a9
Sloper, Patricia
3ea05268-2f4b-4ee3-983d-8b171f22587f
Mitchell, Wendy
5a8da51c-6d11-40c7-8d17-faf324223bf4
Dyson, Paul
8244e61d-d1f3-40b1-ba15-9abbeaddd637
Clayden, Jasmine
01671282-eab3-4422-823f-d236ee39d562
Rafferty, Jackie
2c726b90-76db-4971-8ace-6442d2329c10

Shaw, Ian, Bell, Margaret, Sinclair, Ian, Sloper, Patricia, Mitchell, Wendy, Dyson, Paul, Clayden, Jasmine and Rafferty, Jackie (2009) An exemplary scheme? An evaluation of the integrated children's system. British Journal of Social Work, 39 (4), 613-626. (doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp040).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We outline selected central results from a formative evaluation of four pilot sites in England and Wales of the Integrated Children's System (ICS) – one part of the UK's e-Government strategy. We concentrate on the aspiration of the ICS towards ‘integration’ and ‘systematization’ of services within children's services, at local and national levels. We look in turn at, the use of the ICS as a foundation for aggregate statistical profiles; the experience and views of the social workers; and the implications of ICS for social work practice as exemplified in social workers' use of time. The evidence suggests substantial problems in accomplishing government policy aspirations in each of these areas. We review the likely reasons for these problems, and recommend a review of the ICS on the grounds that the difficulties are inherent rather than transitory, and have arisen at least in part from uncertainty as to whether the ICS is fit for purpose. The authors seek to promote the open and thoughtful debate that a major innovation of this nature requires.

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More information

Published date: 8 April 2009
Keywords: integrated children's system, children's services, ICT, policy implementation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 154565
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/154565
ISSN: 0045-3102
PURE UUID: fa03080e-8569-48f7-9502-b5c6c360ca49

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Date deposited: 25 May 2010 13:36
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 01:34

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Contributors

Author: Ian Shaw
Author: Margaret Bell
Author: Ian Sinclair
Author: Patricia Sloper
Author: Wendy Mitchell
Author: Paul Dyson
Author: Jasmine Clayden
Author: Jackie Rafferty

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