This report, developed in partnership with national and regional occupational therapy leaders, explores the unique role of occupational therapists in councils. It highlights their impact across housing, health, care, and employment, and sets out what the Government can do to unlock their full potential and support delivery of their missions.
Councils have worked tirelessly with partners to reduce under-18 conception rates, improve outcomes for young parents, and tackle the inequalities that underpin early pregnancy. This guide sets out the evidence, challenges and opportunities for councils to continue leading the way.
The Healthy Child programme is the cornerstone of England’s universal public health nursing offer for babies, children and young people. It is delivered by health visitors (for children aged 0–5) and school nurses (for children and young people aged 5–19, or up to 25 for care leavers and those with special educational needs and disabilities).
This guidance explains how local authority public health teams can support new developments in the NHS following publication of Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England. It provides a specific focus on public health support to the Strategic Commissioning function of Integrated Care Boards and the implementation of Neighbourhood Health.
This publication has been developed by the LGA for elected members as overarching guidance to help clarify the current public health grant conditions and mandated public health functions in local government. It has been updated to reflect the 2026/27 public health grant settlement, the consolidation of drug, alcohol and smoking cessation funding streams, the Government's 10 Year Health Plan and Neighbourhood Health Framework, and the NHS restructuring programme under way. It will be updated as the policy landscape continues to evolve.
