Innovation in local government is about improving the lives of the people in our
communities. Browse through our case studies to see the many innovative programmes councils are involved
in.
All Family Hubs previously known as Start Well Family Centres have worked hard to ensure that families are made to feel comfortable and welcome when visiting our venues. All venues have key information display boards which link to the provision of services and knowledge for our families to access.
Colleagues in West Sussex were experiencing high demand for long-term adult social care services, needs becoming more complex, and continued financial pressures. Action was taken to strengthen reablement as a core intervention, promoting independence and managing long term care demand. The Community Reablement Service was recommissioned, with approximately £0.72m additional investment.
Wigan Council has implemented a multi channel, highly visual engagement strategy to increase awareness and take up of Family Hub services. This includes large scale distribution of QR coded information cards, a new digital booking system, and community engagement with branding development.
Overview
Redcar and Cleveland were experiencing discharge delays across the local system, and intermediate care bedded provision was not leading to return home as frequently as would be expected.
Action
In 2017, Croydon Council, the local NHS Commissioning body, local health providers and voluntary organisations formed the One Croydon Alliance. They signed a legally binding 10 year agreement to work as one system, with shared goals and shared responsibility for local people’s wellbeing.
This case study explores the structure and development of the SEND Early Years Service in East Sussex, the services provided to early years settings and families, the emerging evidence of impact, and the future direction of the work in line with Best Start for Life and Family Hub developments.
Best Start Family Hub – Tudor Way is a key part of Worcestershire’s Best Start in Life Family Hubs programme, providing accessible, coordinated support for families with children aged 0–19 (or up to 25 for young people with SEND). Located in the Dines Green area of Worcester, the hub offers a welcoming, non stigmatising space where families can access help early, develop skills and confidence, and connect with services in their local community.
Lincolnshire has implemented a co-located speech and language drop-in model across Family Hubs to support prevention, early identification and intervention for children’s communication needs.
This case study explores how BCP Council prepared for day one of its creation, including the establishment of a transformation programme that addressed inherited legacy technology, built new organisational skills and capabilities, and used programme management and governance to enable effective, sustained change across the council.