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.
Lancashire County Council tackled their foster carer shortage by launching the Pause and Reflect (PAR) model. This initiative offers up to 28 days of emergency care for children with complex needs, allowing time for assessment and calmer transitions. Experienced foster carers receive enhanced support and financial incentives.
Blackpool Council has developed a unique campus model for delivering integrated services to children, young people, and families. This model is built around three Family Hubs located in the north, central, and south areas of Blackpool.
Torbay Council Children’s Services commissions Westward Housing to deliver Torbay Young Parents’ Service with the aim of providing support and accommodation for young families aged 16 to 24 to live together successfully in their community.
Using provision and support mapping to create an Under Fives Speech, Language and Communication Strategy: Brighter Futures for Children (Reading LA) used the Best Start in SLCN guidance to create an under-fives strategy to support the development of improving SLCN to have an impact on children’s outcomes.
The Merton Young Savers scheme is a first-of-its-kind savings account for children, launched by Merton Council in partnership with Croydon Plus Credit Union.
The scheme helps the next generation build financial resilience, supports families during the cost-of-living crisis, keeps money circulating locally, and strengthens community wellbeing
Walsall Council and Walsall NHS Trust have a dedicated teenage pregnancy team, funded by Walsall Public Health, with more than twenty years’ experience of providing both support and prevention initiatives across the borough.
Following the publication of The Better Birth Maternity review in 2016, East Sussex Healthcare Trust established the Lighthouse Team. This decision was prompted by the high under-18 maternity rate in Hastings, which in 2017 was 68 per cent higher than the England average (Office for National Statistics, 2019).
Since 2022 the service has been commissioned by Public Health through Home-Start, an organization with a successful track record in supporting parents of all ages, with a dedicated Coordinator providing a key point of contact and working closely with other services.
WILD Young Parents is the largest UK voluntary sector young parent organisation supporting over 20,000 parents and children over the last 33 years. Based in Cornwall and part funded by Cornwall Council, WILD aims to give young parent families a fair start and to prevent repeated patterns of intergenerational trauma and adversity.