Every child matters: every challenge met?

This article explores the impact of the Every Child Matters agenda on a group of multi‐agency professionals with regard to a number of key issues – such as leadership, multi‐agency collaboration, and individual practice. One of the main challenges concerning the successful implementation of the ECM agenda is to ensure that effective training is provided. If the ECM is having an impact on multi‐agency work and everyday practice, then this is most likely to be concentrated on those who are undertaking professional development which takes the ECM agenda as its basis. A number of innovative training programmes have been established to try and meet these challenges. This research explores the attitudes of participants in one such programme – in particular, their perceptions of ECM priorities and the challenges that the agenda has posed to their thinking and working practices. Key findings and their implications for policy and practice are highlighted.