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.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council adopted a data-driven approach to housing and homelessness, using interactive dashboards and improved data sharing to enable more transparent, evidence-based decisions.
Fantastic 2s began in late 2016 as a small pilot – and nine years on, it’s still going strong! The programme was born out of a clear need: the uptake of free early education places was worryingly low.
This case study examines how Torbay Council and its partners developed robust data sharing arrangements across three agencies to improve Family Hub service delivery. It highlights practical steps including establishing a shared vision and transitioning from separate IT systems to a single centralised platform, offering valuable lessons for other local authorities implementing multi-agency data sharing.
Barnsley’s Family Hub network works across the borough to ensure families receive the right support in the right place at the right time. A central part of the Family Hubs offer is support for parents. The approach is rooted in the belief that stronger parent–child relationships lead to better outcomes for children, and that early support should be available in familiar, local settings, without judgement.
Recognising that helping families across the whole of Cambridgeshire could lead to better outcomes, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council began working together on an Early Years Strategy in 2017, in partnership with colleagues across the children’s health system and communities.
Two years before receiving funding from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, the team in Islington completed a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) of the 0-5 population and their families. Following the introduction of the Family Hub model, an additional wider needs assessment of the 0-18 population (and 0-25 for special educational needs) was completed in line with Family Hub and Start for Life programme expectations. Together, this helped to identify key areas of focus for Islington’s Start for Life services.
Despite not having received Family Hubs and Start for Life programme funding, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council wanted to strengthen the delivery of their Start for Life Offer through increased integration and formalisation of services.
In Norfolk, the Parent-Infant Relationship service (PAIRS) and Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) service had a well-established offering before receiving Family Hubs and Start for Life programme funding.
Supporting new and expectant parents as they make the transition into parenthood is crucial for providing babies with the best start in life. The Family Hub and Start for Life Programme in Wolverhampton includes various workstreams, all focused on providing supportive and inclusive parenting support and community outreach initiatives.