%A Merrill Luen Clarke
%O Thesis: (PhD) University of London Institute of Education 1997..
%L discovery10020294
%I Institute of Education, University of London
%D 1997
%X This study explored the impact in Britain of policies to improve co-ordination of
services concerned with children and their welfare. To do this, it viewed the
agencies as forming a child welfare system which could be described as loosely
coupled. Such systems may be characterised by unpredictability and
uncertainty, demanding that those involved in them exercise skills of
interpretation to make sense of the 'world in which they operate. The insights
gained from the literature on loosely coupled systems were used to explore the
organisation of services relevant to children and, in particular, change over time
in the strength and pattern of coupling.
The study took a twin approach. First, it incorporated an historical analysis of
policies designed to improve working relationships between workers and
agencies. Second, it drew on fieldwork with practitioners, responsible for the
delivery of services, to explore change over time in the experience of working
together. The fieldwork focused on issues, concerning school aged children.
which could fall under the umbrella of child protection. The methodology
involved interviews with primary school head teachers, education welfare officers,
school nurses and local authority social workers. A vignette approach was used
to explore their perceptions of situations involving children. In order to study
change. two rounds of interviews were conducted. These took place in 1984/5
and 1993/94. This longitudinal element is a distinguishing feature of the study.
Loosely coupled systems theory provided a useful basis for analysis. The study
found that policies aimed at co-ordination have reflected changing ideologies and
perceptions of the task to be done. The interviews indicated a number of
changes in perception of practice and areas of greater agreement. To that
extent there is evidence that the looseness of the system had tightened, at least
in part, but elements of looseness remained.
%T Working together for children : loosely coupled systems and inter-professional relations with particular reference to child protection