The role of 'embeddedness' in the delivery of integrated children's services

How integration of statutory and voluntary children's services can occur is the focus of this paper and is theorised using 'embeddedness' theory. The paper considers strategies utilised by practitioners in integrated Children's Centres in one English Local Authority to engage children and families identified as requiring enhanced (targeted) services. The service comprised free early education for two year olds and bespoke packages of family support aimed at improving parenting practice, improved safeguarding and contributing to greater self-efficacy for parents and carers. The findings indicate the importance of, and often lack of, 'embeddedness' in local communities and within statutory and non-statutory services and propose this as a barrier to the most disadvantaged families participating in services.