Background Families’ various problems are reflected in the everyday life of children and young people. In order to help them, low-threshold services based on multi-professional collaboration between the various authorities are required. Within the framework of the ‘Code of caring’ project (www.välittämisenkoodi.fi), a new operational model and communications system will be developed, providing responses to children’s and young people’s challenging life situations, preventive marginalisation and violence and promoting the safety of children and young people.

Methods The impact of the new operational model on aid provision to children and young people aged 12–17 will be studied with the help of a three-phase research process. The first phase (2014) will comprise the gathering of national data on the marginalisation of children and young people. The second phase (2014–2015) will study the current situation as assessed by the various authorities themselves and as experienced both by the children and young people. The third phase (2014–2015) will describe the views and experiences expressed by the various authorities and children and young people of working under the new model. The experiences of children and young people will be studied with the help of thematic interviews as well as queries sent to the actors involved. The data thus gathered will be analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Results The results obtained from the first survey indicate that the representatives of the authorities were almost unanimous in believing that common conversations aid in understanding the overall process aimed at helping children and young people. Themes represented in development suggestions included the need for common training, in order to better understand the roles of the different helpers and the goals set for their work. The challenges of multi-professional work most emphasised were lack of time, personnel turnover and communication issues. Research findings on the views of the various actors were supported by the interviews with the children and young people. These interviews were taken into consideration in the development of the model. Research finding obtained from the third research phase will be presented at the Safety 2016 World Conference.

Conclusions When attending to the concerns of children and young people, account must be taken of the views expressed by those who need help as well as by those parties that are engaged in collaboration.