Multi-agency Meetings
Multi-agency meetings provide an opportunity for practitioners and families to discuss how additional needs can be met. There is real value in this participative process and it should lead to less duplication of assessments and more effective integration of service delivery.
Conduct of Meetings
- Parents, carers and young people, wherever appropriate, should always be invited to attend and meetings should be organised in a way which encourages this. The venue should be accessible and meetings timed to take account of the other commitments of the family.
- Attendance at meetings is expected of all relevant agencies. Practitioners unable to attend will take responsibility for informing the Lead Professional and providing information, which the Lead Professional can present to the meeting in their absence.
- All those providing services or who might do so in the future should be asked to attend along with anyone else who can contribute to the discussion. The Lead Professional will normally chair the meeting and ensure that the outcomes are recorded on the appropriate form. There is no requirement for other formal recording of minutes and administrative support will therefore not be normally required.
- A key task for the Lead Professional is to ensure that all those present, including the family, have an opportunity to contribute to the discussion and formulation of the service plan.
Outcomes of meetings
Multi-agency meetings will always agree the following:
- Action plan – identifying who is doing what by when
- Lead Professional
- Date of next meeting
In addition, the meeting may also wish to consider:
- Further assessment
- Actions by family members
- Actions by practitioners who are present at the meeting
- Request for service from agencies not present
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