Information and joining up services

Bridgette Wessels is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Sheffield and was formerly Senior Research Associate, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. She has conducted research in numerous areas of inclusion and exclusion and the changing nature of service provision, which includes understanding information within such contexts. Val Bagnall was Interagency Development Worker (Children with Disabilities), Health and Social Services, Newcastle upon Tyne, she is now the Partnership Coordinator for the Children's Service at St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle upon Tyne. She originally trained as a psychiatric social worker and subsequently worked in developmental posts in health, social services and in the voluntary sector. Her current interest is in being part of the Government's 'working together' agenda to achieve joined up services responsive to the needs of families.

• Contents: Introduction; Understanding information; Developing a guide to services; Understanding the use of the guide in family contexts; Understanding the use of the guide in service contexts; Conclusions; Recommendations for further research and for policy.