Case studies

Author Professor Bengt Lindstrom MD PhD DrPH is Professor of Salutogenesis and Health Promotion at the Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenberg, and Director of Health Promotion Research at the Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki. This case study is an example of the practical use of asset-based approaches in communities.

This project has enabled a successful channel shift to deliver a flexible service 24/7/365. This delivers a more convenient option to alleviate traffic away from traditional housing options services. The model offers one main consolidated referral route giving customers an efficient and effective way to engage with their local authority.

Sheffield’s contact tracing service went live in the middle of October. It is staffed by a team of 12 dedicated contact tracers who work seven days a week – although the hours are shorter at the weekends.

Hertfordshire’s whole systems approach to child obesity includes a successful weight management service, an active school travel plan that discourages car drop-offs, and 10 “healthy hubs”.

When Lincolnshire County Council began to map the complex factors that lead to childhood obesity; from food availability and marketing, transport choices and social norms to activity levels and deprivation, the intricate diagram of causal loops was a powerful visual illustration that a whole systems approach was necessary.

Wigan commissions leisure services to provide an integrated health and wellbeing offering which makes full use of the community assets that families trust most - schools and Start Well Family Centres - as well as providing weight management services for children and young people.

The development of a transitions service offered by Hammersmith & Fulham Council demonstrates the good practice set out in several key domains of this outcomes and improvement framework.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council, in collaboration with partner organisations, and the Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) have developed arrangements which demonstrate that safeguarding can go beyond a single focus of protection to a wider and more significant role of helping people to live the lives they want to live.

Darlington is an example of a council that demonstrates good practice across all six domains of this outcomes and improvement framework and achieves excellent outcomes for people with a learning disability. It has also consistently realised significant efficiency savings.

Bringing together a large and diverse group of stakeholders to understand the challenges posed by their particular site and draw up a community action plan. This case study was done jointly with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance and forms part of our suicide prevention resource.