Case studies

Cheshire Youth Justice Service have focussed on addressing young people’s unmet health needs to tackle reoffending. The creation of the Cheshire-wide youth justice partnership in 2017 highlighted inequalities in justice-involved children’s health provision, which they have worked to address, and are now taking an innovative social prescribing approach to meet the wider health needs of their youth justice cohort.

In September 2017, North Lincolnshire Council became one of only three English councils to be awarded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for services for children in need of help and protection, and looked-after children.

The Children’s Social Work Matters (CSWM) programme was launched 10 years ago to champion the vital role of children’s social workers and raise industry standards.

Bradford Council has been tackling problems with child sexual exploitation (CSE) head-on for some years and is now identifying and helping a growing number of victims. More recently the council, working with partners, has turned its attention to criminal exploitation.

City of York Council introduced a strategy in 2019 to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children with a focus on speech, language and communication. The Early Talk for York approach aims to improve outcomes for communication and language skills for children aged birth – five.

The development of this offer involved working with parent carers, CYP, and community partners to produce a summer community offer. The offer was designed to ensure local families have opportunities to access positive activities, build networks and friendships, access excellent quality information and build their confidence of using universal services and exploring the Local Offer.

As part of Leicester's participation strategy, young people who are looked after by the local authority or who are care leavers can become Care Experienced Consultants (CEC).

The schools’ forum-funded Schools Support Partnership employs a Speech and Language Therapist working with Rutland Early Years settings, developing practitioners’ knowledge, understanding and confidence to support Speech Language and Communication skills.

In tackling teenage pregnancy, Cornwall Council has taken a holistic approach.

Cornwall Council has commissioned a service to work with all young parents. For those with the most complex needs, such as those with a history of domestic abuse and child protection issues, there is a range of bespoke support available. This case study is an example of the work that councils are doing to support young parents.