Subspecialty neonatal trainees views on being prepared for the consultant role.

Higher specialist training offers an opportunity to focus on non-clinical skills as well as clinical issues. The authors wished to determine whether doctors who complete neonatal higher specialist training in the UK feel prepared for the consultant role with respect to management, research and teaching, as well as clinical activities. A questionnaire related to the preparedness of the consultant to carry out a range of activities was sent to all doctors who were appointed to the UK higher specialist training programme in neonatology from 2002 to 2008 who were currently working as consultants.

Evaluating the role of the Sure Start Plus Adviser in providing integrated support for pregnant teenagers and young parents.

This paper offers a descriptive evaluation of the role and performance of the Sure Start Plus Adviser in providing integrated support for pregnant teenagers and young parents, and focuses on their interprofessional working. The study, based upon interviews and questionnaires with advisers, pregnant and parenting teenagers and mainstream professionals, was conducted within five Local Authorities in the north-east of England. Findings show differences in how the role was undertaken and in terms of its impact within different authorities.

Models of interprofessional working within a Sure Start "Trailblazer" Programme.

This paper evaluates interprofessional working within a Sure Start "trailblazer" programme based upon definitions of multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary practice. Examples of practice from within the programme include professionals working towards family support and child protection objectives, providing a forum for child and family referral and a programme to promote mother-child bonding. Findings are discussed in the context of linking interprofessionality with government target-setting, professional identity and values and integrated working practice for Sure Start/Children's Centres.

Interprofessional teamworking for child and family referral in a Sure Start local programme.

Interprofessional and inter-agency working are important features of UK government initiatives, such as Sure Start local programmes for children under 4 years old and their families. Part of the vision for Sure Start was that providers of services and support would work together in new ways that cut across old professional and agency boundaries and focus more successfully on family and community needs. This paper describes the development and functioning of a Referral and Allocation Project in one trailblazer Sure Start local programme.