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.
We want every family to access the support they need to achieve the best start in life for their babies. For perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support, this means access to universal services to help spot and respond to issues before they develop into more complex problems.
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.
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.
The Barnet KidsTime Workshop offers an evidence-based intervention that is aligned with the NHS 10-year plan and strategic objectives relating to Family First for Children, Best Start for Life, and Neighbourhood Health.
Coventry City Council, along with the multiagency partnership, has developed a city-wide model of integrated family support through eight Family Hub locations.
The Health Equity Teams (HET) programme in Lewisham was developed to address racial health inequalities identified in the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities (BLACHIR) report.
The Public Health team within Hackney Council is working with partners across maternity and children’s services to promote holistic awareness and support for foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)--an often overlooked and underdiagnosed health condition affecting children and families exposed to alcohol during pregnancy.
‘Family Matters’ is a multi-agency programme in Stoke-on-Trent that gives families access to the advice, tips and opportunities they need to thrive. It is a key part of the city council’s commitment to early support – working with partners, including the voluntary and community sector, to ensure that children have the best start in life.
Rochdale Borough Council has maintained Township Committees across the Borough for over thirty years. An integral part of the council’s decision-making process, the Township Committees empower elected members to take ownership over the local delivery of some council services.
Manchester City Council have established ward coordination meetings in each ward across the city. These meetings allow elected members the opportunity to access intelligence about their ward, set local priorities, and engage with council and wider partners, residents and communities to make progress in their neighbourhoods.