Partnerships in Local Government: The case of transition support services for young people with learning disabilities

Abstract

This paper examines a type of partnership that is formed to deliver transition support services for young people with learning disabilities. What makes transition partnerships instructive for partnership research is that they are constituted between statutory and non-statutory agencies across a wide range of service sectors. Transition for this population group with its specific needs has often been described as a ‘wicked problem’. The paper suggests that a split between strategic and operational levels of partnership work adversely affects policy implementation and contributes to the inability of stakeholders to bring about improved outcomes for service users.

Key words:

• Partnerships
• local government
• governance
• transition
• learning disabilities
• intellectual disabilities
• social care
• third sector

Notes

In England, the careers service is called Connexions, previously a semi-independent agency with annual contract from the English government to deliver statutory careers advice to all young people at transition age. Connexions have now been integrated into the local authorities in England. The status of Careers Wales remains unchanged.