The Children & Young People's Partnership role is based on five core aims set out by the Welsh Assembly Government for its vision for children and young people:

• a foundation of principle in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:
• entitlements to services based on the needs of the child or young person:
• listening to and acting on the views of children, young people and families:
• giving the highest priority to those most in need: and
• a commitment to partnership working between different local organisations as the only way in which these aspirations can be achieved.

In the Welsh Assembly Government's draft guidance "Stronger Partnerships for Better Outcomes" local agencies are expected to take a joint approach to planning services to make them as effective as possible to improve quality and quantity of services in Wales as set out in "Making the Connections: Delivering better services for Wales." The aim is to increase efficiency through more effective co-operation across the public services and to place people and communities at the centre, enabling active participation in service planning design and delivery. It also promotes a focus on outcomes, rather than compliance with processes. This guidance and the proposals for strengthening partnerships, provide a practical context for taking forward this policy.

Better outcomes for children and young people can only be achieved and sustained when agencies work together and co-operate in planning and delivering services that are coherent and focus effectively on meeting their needs.  Local authorities in Wales are required to prepare and publish a single plan or a framework of plans for services to children and young people.