Editorial.

The article introduces a series of papers about services to children and families in Great Britain. The paper "Every Child Matters," proposed a number of radical structural changes, designed to improve the quality of coordination and cooperation. Some papers do reflect the concern and anxiety surrounding cooperation in the areas of child protection but all go beyond the structural factors, which may impede effective working together. A range of key issues, especially in relation to role, and explanatory theories are considered. Also, the settings on which discussion is based are varied, including teams working with severely disabled children and their families.