One of the functions of the Children Acts Advisory Board (CAAB) was to promote enhanced inter-agency co-operation, including the sharing of information. Ongoing work in this included the facilitation of monthly ‘inter-agency panel’ meetings by the CAAB.
A key purpose of ‘inter-agency’ panel meetings is to provide a ‘safe-space’ to discuss the areas where there is a need for inter-agency co-operation to ensure that the best interests of children and young people are being met and to identify areas in need of further development to help enhance inter-agency co-operation. Inter-agency panel meetings consist of representatives from senior management in the Health Service Executive, the Irish Youth Justice Service, The Probation Service and An Garda Síochána.
The CAAB also organised and facilitated opportunities for inter-agency enhancement both nationally and regionally. In 2008 the CAAB hosted four network seminars regionally, two putting evidence to practice seminars, a good practice awards ceremony for ‘Awards for Services to Children and Young People’ and a national conference on ‘Improving outcomes for children and families through inter-agency working’ In 2009 the CAAB also hosted one further evidence to practice seminar and launched a series of research reports. For details on all of these events please see our Events section.
In addition, the CAAB Commissioned a series of research projects on inter-agency working in children’s services. This work included a number of linked components which as well as providing the most comprehensive view of inter-agency working in children’s services in Ireland available to date, culminated in the production of a Guidance document to support the development of effective inter-agency working. The purpose of this document is provide succinct but comprehensive, evidence based, guidance to support effective inter-agency working across children’s services. Details of these research projects and an online database of Irish and International research reports on inter-agency co-operation are available from our Research section.