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.
Helping Hands is a partnership between Phoenix Detached Youth Project and Connexions, North Tyneside, providing integrated support for mental health, emotional wellbeing, education, and employment. The programme offers ongoing group and 1:1 support for young people facing challenges like anxiety, low mood, and social isolation.
In response to rising mental health concerns and a lack of facilities for young people in St Neots, Cllr Claire Mascarenhas spearheaded a community-driven initiative. This included hiring a dedicated Youth Worker, involving young people in the recruitment process, and securing additional funding to further support local youth mental health needs.
Sutton’s Mental Health Support Team, embedded within the Educational Psychology service, builds strong connections with schools and support services to offer early intervention for mental health. The team also addresses parental anxiety and works to improve school attendance linked to mental health issues.
Support from Partners in Care and Health (PCH) focused on re-shaping the work of the health and wellbeing board (HWB) following a period when it lost some focus; changes made to way meetings are organised; council say board is now in “really good place” and praises way PCH peers brought new ideas to the table.
Coventry and Warwickshire’s health and wellbeing boards (HWB) had been meeting jointly for a number of years; Partners in Care and Health (PCH) brought in amid concern this partnership work was duplicating the move towards integrated care systems; focus of the HWBs and integrated care partnerships sharpened thanks to fresh perspective and challenging questions posed by PCH peers.
Partners in Care and Health (PCH) peers provided support to improve integrated working at place; workshops were held leading to two workstreams on admissions avoidance and discharge to assess. The new director of adult social services says the process helped her hit the ground running.
The London borough approached Partners in Care and Health (PCH) to undertake a peer challenge to look at how public health resources were being utilised. The Director of Public Health saw the peer challenge as an opportunity to further develop place-based partnership working. The process has helped the council know what is working and where it needs to do things. differently.
Partners in Care and Health (PCH) worked with 10 councils in the East Midlands Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) Network to improve partnership working and address common public health challenges. The Directors of Public Health and their teams completed the public health strengths and risks self-assessment tool in two stages. A range of new workstreams have now been launched; and the councils also report the support has had the added benefit of helping prepare for CQC inspections and appraisals.
Rotherham requested Partners in Care and Health’s (PCH) support to undertake the public health strengths and risks self-assessment tool. The work identified a series of strengths and challenges from community engagement to supporting members which are now being addressed. The support comes ahead of a three-day regional Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) peer review later this year.