To mark ten years of children's public health being back within in local government, we have commissioned a series of interviews with thought leaders from across the sector on their thoughts on the impact made and what more can be done to support children.
Foreword
This year marks a decade since responsibility for health visiting and 0–5 public health services transferred to local government. It was the final step in one of the most significant shifts in public health policy for a generation, placing councils at the centre of efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families.
Over the past ten years, councils have embraced this responsibility, using their unique position at the centre of communities to develop more integrated, place-based approaches to improving outcomes in early childhood. Working alongside social care, housing, early years, education and voluntary sector partners, councils have found innovative ways to support children and families, often in the face of considerable financial and workforce pressures.
These interviews bring together reflections from public health leaders across the country. Their insights are honest and clear: despite the challenges, the move to local government has created new opportunities to tackle the wider determinants of health and deliver services that are more responsive to local need.
But we must be equally honest about what is still required. Children today are facing rising levels of poverty, mental ill-health and preventable conditions such as obesity and tooth decay. Meanwhile, health visiting and school nursing teams are stretched thinner than ever. Now more than ever, we need a joined-up, cross-government approach for children and a properly resourced national strategy to support the workforce that serves them.
We believe that local government is the right place for children’s public health. Councils are committed to building on the foundations of the past decade, and with the right support and investment, they stand ready to do even more to give every child the best start in life.
Councillor David Fothergill, Chair of the LGA Community Wellbeing Board
Councillor Arooj Shah, Chair of the LGA Children and Young People’s Board
