Reforming the children and young people's workforce: a higher education response

Abstract

The Every Child Matters change agenda is leading to the creation of new services and new working practices across the children and young people's sectors. These new configurations are leading to the development of new roles that do not necessarily fit with existing, traditional professional qualifications. This paper outlines the response of one university to this policy agenda. The experience of inter-disciplinary collaboration and interprofessional curriculum development has mirrored many of the challenges facing colleagues in practice settings. In reflecting on these challenges, this study highlights some of the key issues facing higher education providers in developing an appropriate educational response. The study identifies the need for collaborative and strategic partnership between higher education and practice colleagues in order to prepare a future workforce. It further identifies the desirability of a champion with the capacity and determination to keep the agenda from getting lost within all the other uni-disciplinary agendas that operate within universities.