Children's health
The 2012 Health and Social Care Act transferred public health responsibilities from the NHS to local government, it presents an opportunity for local authorities to work with the health, voluntary and community sector to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
The LGA works with local authorities, including lead members for children's services to deliver better health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people. Access the full range of support tools and latest information on children's health issues from the list of resources below.
Bright futures: local children, local approaches
The plethora of case studies in this publication shows how councils up and down the country are using children's centres to help deliver early intervention through integrated health provision and getting children school-ready, to a more formal community budget approach.
Safeguarding children in the reformed NHS system
The accountability and assurance framework was commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board in order to set out clearly the responsibilities of each of the key players for safeguarding in the future NHS.
Starting well: improving health and reducing health inequalities among the young
This resource sheet emphasises the need for improvement in children's health outcomes and the potential for new approaches and partnerships following the transfer of public health.
LGA briefing: Improving children and young people's health outcomes: a system-wide response, February 2013
This briefing provides a summary of the LGA's response to the key recommendations made by the Children and Young People's Health Outcome Forum and the Government's system-wide response to the report.
National Child Measurement Programme: Briefing for elected members
These frequently asked questions for elected members have been jointly produced by the Local Government Association and Public Health England. They address a number of transitional issues relating to the transfer of responsibility for delivering the National Child Measurement Programme, which moved from PCTs to local government in April 2013.
Teenage pregnancy resources for elected members and officers
The LGA has launched a number of resources on teenage pregnancy to help local authorities understand and address the key issues.
Measles: briefing for councillors
The LGA has combined with Public Health England to provide some helpful guidance to councillors on Measles. This listing of frequently asked questions explains what is being done to reduce the spread of these latest local outbreaks of the disease and what vaccination strategies your local authority can adopt.
Resources for Health and Wellbeing Boards focusing on children, young people and family issues
The Health and Wellbeing Board learning set for children and young people looked at the issues important to the development of Health and Wellbeing Boards have produced several products including case studies and key policy documents.
Guide on Local Healthwatch, health and wellbeing boards and health scrutiny
The Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) has published a guide to help local leaders and others to understand the independent, but complementary, roles and responsibilities of council health scrutiny, local Healthwatch and health and wellbeing boards.
Child sexual exploitation resource
The LGA believes that councils can play a key role in preventing child sexual exploitation (CSE). We are launching an eight-week National Conversation to gather views, ideas and existing practice. Your input will help shape a set of resources to be published in the summer. Deadline extension: 24 April 2013 .
Health and wellbeing board National Learning Network
A forum on children and young people has been created in the Knowledge Hub for the National Learning Network for Health and Wellbeing Boards.
The Knowledge Hub is free to join, you are welcome to share information, ideas and ask for help from other members, in particular we would really like to hear how your Health and Wellbeing Board and its partners are tackling children's issues such as safeguarding, commissioning and integration in the new public health system.
Health and wellbeing board National Learning Network - on the DH website.
Free public health conferences
The LGA is running a series of public health conferences to help local authorities prepare for their new public health duties. Each informative and interactive conference focuses on issues affecting children, young people and adults and will share learning from local government and the health sector.
