Early intervention
Charting a course through tricky waters
Without significant extra funding, many councils and their partners will struggle during COVID-19 recovery to manage the increased demand on services for supporting children and families, says Donna Molloy.
Councils get faster data insights to boost their COVID-19 recovery
Policy in Practice has secured new funding from Innovate UK, meaning councils will now have access to real-time monthly updates on living standards, says Deven Ghelani. This lays the foundation for a data-led response to COVID-19 challenges, he adds.
Examining the forces that push problems downstream
The pandemic has created opportunities for learning, renewal, and new, better responses, says Graeme McDonald. The pro-early intervention arguments appear to many mere common sense, so why is investing early so difficult, he asks.
Early intervention: adapting to a world in lockdown
The Early Intervention Foundation has carried out an intense effort to gather as much information as it could on what works in virtual and digital delivery, says Jack Martin. He outlines what the evidence shows.
Our systemic model is coming to the fore during the pandemic
Sarah Newman, executive director of children’s services for the bi-borough - Kensington & Chelsea RLBC and Westminster City Council – outlines how the councils have been working to protect children and families during the COVID-19 crisis.
Greenwich’s Children’s Centres Offer Remote Support to Families in Need
Lisa Walsh explains how Better Children’s Centres within Greenwich RLBC are helping families by providing practical and emotional support online and over the phone.
What does a public health approach to childhood trauma look like?
Local government and agencies cannot tackle the deep-rooted problems arising from adverse childhood experiences on their own, says Donna Molloy.
Health check
Jayne Moules outlines how a group of Hartlepool agencies has developed a whole-system approach to reducing the impact of parental conflict on children.
Creating communities for all ages
Bringing younger and older people together produces dividends, says Stephen Burke, who outlines how councils can encourage more intergenerational care and living.
‘Things will not get better: We need radical action’
Neil McInroy argues that a crisis in children’s and adults’ services calls for ‘a new spirit of action which challenges economic and political power’.
Taking the initiative together to tackle unhealthy weight
Kensington & Chelsea RLBC’s Go Golborne initiative has stopped the rise in childhood obesity in the ward, says Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke.
Exploring all the options
The ‘radical rethink’ needed to reform the adult social care system calls for bold decisions, full exploration of all the options – and a funding solution that may need some manoeuvring around manifesto pledges on tax, says Cllr Dave Fothergill.
Communities hold the key to children’s social care
Pawda Tjoa says community-led approaches to early intervention should offer valuable lessons for policy-making on a national scale – and now is the time to ‘nurture the local initiatives that are already making a difference’.
Family Hubs – a manifesto promise that could be the future of public services
For Family Hubs to work they will need two things – freedom and funding – and they need to be allowed to grow organically in a way that works for local communities, says Andrew Laird.
The importance of an early start
With concerns of underfunding remaining in the childcare sector, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) president Rachel Dickinson outlines what she would like to see from future early years policies.
Future Forum North: Health and care devo has been 'a good thing' for Greater Manchester
The Greater Manchester health partnership gave Tameside the' air cover' to save £88m while reducing demand and 'creating a virtuous investment model'.
It all starts in the community
Pawda Tjoa of the New Local Government Network (NLGN) says a new community-led model is needed to shift the focus of children's services to prevention.
Charity calls for re-investment in public health grant
A new study of health and social care spending has found that the Government focuses too much on acute services rather than investing in long-term preventative measures.
Starting early to tackle obesity
Jonathan Gribbin outlines how Nottinghamshire CC will use its inclusion in the Childhood Obesity Trailblazer programme to help the very youngest children develop healthy eating patterns before they start school.
Prevention is the key to ensuring our children’s future
Rachel Dickinson encourages Boris Johnson to ensure children are central to the policy decisions of his new regime.
