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The second term of office for a 'New Labour' government in the United Kingdom has brought with it increased pressure for those working with children and young people to work in interdisciplinary ways. Yet only limited attention has been given to exploring and defining the common skills, knowledge and values needed to promote such activity. In addition, established approaches to vocational education and training frequently reinforce long-held ideas of the importance of promoting 'specialisms', separation and occupational difference. This article calls into question such approaches by advocating the need for the development of an interdisciplinary framework that should inform education and training activity for all those working with the young. In turn, it is specifically advocated that the production of such a framework requires the creation of opportunities for consultation where common areas of work can be considered and differences in perception and approach examined through open and constructive dialogue. The main concern of the authors is to demonstrate what can be achieved when a willingness to work across academic disciplines and occupational boundaries is displayed.