Margaret Hodge has high hopes for children's trusts. In 2003, the children's minister set out her vision of how the trusts would bring together children's social services, education and health services in one single local structure designed around the needs of children, young people and their families. "By working together as one body, children's professionals will be able to pool money and staff and offer better support and protection," she declared.
That was 18 months ago. The process is now well underway in many parts of the country, with the Government having established 35 pathfinder trusts in councils stretching from Devon to Newcastle. As children's trusts roll out across the whole country in the next few years it is these pilot projects that will inform the final product. So how are they shaping up? We take a look at what two of the pathfinders have already discovered on their journey to integrate services for local children and families.
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