Study to evaluate integrated working

The research, which will focus on the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) process, will investigate which factors enable successful integration between universal and targeted services.

Local authorities will evaluate their CAF processes and make recommendations for developing best practice nationally.

More than 30 local authorities are expected to contribute to the research, alongside consortium members such as the National Foundation for Educational Research and Research in Practice.

Celia Atherton, director of Research in Practice, said: "The second round reflects the growing maturity of the Every Child Matters agenda. It's no longer a question of whether integrated services have improved outcomes - it's now about how we can contribute to outcomes faster and better."

Councils will tailor research to suit local needs and gather findings between November 2008 and June 2009.