This report makes a major contribution to our knowledge of how national and local government and voluntary agencies are working together to provide parenting services across the country.

In-depth interviews were conducted in 10 English local authorities with parenting commissioners, parenting coordinators and senior managers to capture the strategic and operational experience of planning and delivering parenting services in the field. There is also a unique discussion of government directives and other policy commentaries on service enhancement.

As well as identifying the deficits and challenges, the study looks at good practice and discovers a range of successful strategies and systems. It makes proposals to support more efficient management, ranging from budgetary matters and coordination to the very definition of parenting support. The recommendations will be of interest to all those engaged in planning and managing in one of the country's most rapidly expanding public service fields.

View all the reports in this series here.