This article investigates the value of practitioner enquiry in the development of common language and shared understandings. The participants were a group of mid-career professionals from a variety of public service backgrounds, brought together to formulate responses to the English agenda for integrating services. It draws upon data gathered from multi-professional action learning and focus groups via a collaboration between an English University and six regional authorities. The article concludes that collaborative multi-professional practitioner enquiry offers a realistic means of embedding this challenging aspect of policy.