Children's services directory

In 2003, information sharing and assessment funding was made available to help local authorities fulfil a number of requirements, including setting up and operating service directories.

Local authorities were set two requirements to work towards by March 2005:

1. A service directory providing comprehensive information on local providers, eligibility criteria, geographical location and referral procedures
   
   
2. Procedures for keeping this service directory up-to-date and for ensuring that professionals working with children and young people have access - providing this information to the public where possible

Linking up directories of children's services

We commissioned the National Family and Parenting Institute to carry out research between September 2005 and March 2006 to study the expansion of the provision of service directories. The report maps the progress of all 150 local authorities, examines linkages, and focuses on local authorities that have created a single directory by joining up with children's information services, other local agencies such as Connexions, and other local authorities.

Linking Up Directories of Children's Services - research report and brief

Service Directory Website Addresses - lists local areas' online service directories based on information provided during the research

Since March 2005, the provision of local area service directories has featured in other areas of government work. The Childcare Act 2006 contains a duty requiring local authorities to provide information to parents on childcare and other local support services for children and young people up to the age of 20. This builds on previous work under the information sharing and assessment programme. The Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) also included the provision of local service directories in its 'Implementing e-Government' work.

Key principles for developing effective directories

In authorities where priority has been given to creation of a directory and where its function as a preventative tool is appreciated, an impressive array of practices to support its development as a valuable resource emerged. 12 key principles appeared to govern good practice in the development and sustainability of service directories:

• Preparation
• Networking knowledge and understanding
• Collaboration
• Integrating information across separate databases
• Updating the directory
• Flexibility - 'horses for courses'
• Flexibility - coping with change
• Mainstreaming
• Consultation
• Creativity and problem solving
• Education, publicity and outreach
• Optimising access  

Integrated working factsheets - including a factsheet on service directories

Click for more on integrated working.