Development of Integrated Children's Services in Exeter: A Case Study Available to Purchase

This article describes the experience of designing and implementing a joint health/social services/education strategy for children with special needs and their families in the Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and North Devon Primary Care Trust localities. While partnership with parents was a guiding principle and beneficial changes in policy and practice were introduced, the article gives practical illustrations of how easily a gap can emerge between rhetoric and reality during implementation.