Introduction

Early intervention and prevention for vulnerable children, young people and families poses one of the greatest challenges for local services and society at large. Identifying local, national and international knowledge of ‘what works’ in early intervention and prevention, and supporting its use, has the potential to transform life chances and ensure resources are spent wisely.

'Grasping the nettle' was based on the joint call for evidence of effective local practice by C4EO and ADCS (the Association of Directors of Children's Services) which led to over 100 submissions, and a number of these are summarised in the publication. In parallel, C4EO commissioned a rapid review of international experience, from the Wave Trust, to build a solid base of evidence.

By teasing out and distilling the key messages from this wealth of evidence of 'what works', including  research findings, this practice guide aimed to support Local Authorities and their partners in improving the quality of life chances for the children, families and communities that they serve. This work was led by an Expert Group of senior leaders and academics, chaired by Kim Bromley-Derry, past President of ADCS and Acting Chief Executive of Newham Council.

Theme Advisory Groups (TAGs)

The work on this theme was shaped and guided by a Theme Advisory Group.

Graham Allen reports on Early Intervention

Graham Allen was appointed by the Government in July 2010 to lead an independent review into Early Intervention. The reviews focused on the following:

• The identification of best practice in the field of Early Intervention
• The dissemination and delivery of best practice at a local level
• New ways to fund early intervention in the future.
  

Early Intervention: the next steps – Published January 2011

Early Intervention: Smart Investment, Massive Savings in PDF Format - Published July 2011

More information

For more information about this theme contact C4EO on 020 7843 6358 or email us at contactus@C4EO.org.uk

You can also sign up for regular email updates.

Publications

Grasping the nettle

• Grasping the nettle: early intervention for children, families and communities - executive summary (121Kb PDF file, 12 pages)
• Grasping the nettle: early intervention for children, families and communities

These papers summarise local practice validated as excellent or deemed promising in response to the joint call for effective practice from ADCS and C4EO. It highlights the early messages from an analysis of these initial case studies.

What works in combating childhood obesity

• What works in combating childhood obesity: an anthology of the literature on effective whole-system approaches (814Kb PDF file, 96 pages)

WAVE Trust International Early Intervention desk study

• International experience of early intervention for children, young people and their families (888Kb PDF file, 129 pages)

 

Early Intervention – Desk study (283Kb PDF file, 21 pages) - This report focuses on early intervention and prevention, in the context of integrated services.

Presentations

Primary Prevention – cheaper than cure, better outcomes for children

In June 2012 C4EO, and Wave Trust, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, ran a well-attended one day conference called ‘Primary Prevention - cheaper than cure, better outcomes for children’. This event addressed such issues as: what is meant by Primary Prevention; where best to invest; examples of effective local and national practice and workshops to share local experience.

Presentations from the event are available here:

• The importance of a local area prevention strategy - George Hosking, CEO, WAVE Trust
• Report on recent study of policies from conception to age 2 - Sally Burlington, Deputy Director, Sure Start and Early Intervention Division, Department for Education
• How Third Sector organisations can help to “make it happen” - Fiona Sheil, NCVO
• The Health perspective - Dr Ann Hoskins, Interim Regional Director of Public Health Director of Children, Young People Maternity
• Prevention and early intervention – a Croydon perspective - Jon Rouse CEO Croydon Council
• “More fences – fewer ambulances” The role of local government in mending a broken Britain – Robin Millar CSJ

Family, Parents and Carers & Early Intervention conference presentations

• Early Intervention & Families, Parents & Carers training workshop - welcome and introduction (446Kb PDF file, 7 pages)
• Cost effectiveness model for children’s services (520Kb PDF file, 16 pages)
• Grasping the nettle: early intervention for children, families and communities (554Kb PDF file, 14 pages)
• Developing the workforce to deliver evidence based practice (242Kb PDF file, 8 pages)
• Families at risk division - key evidence (228Kb PDF file, 13 pages)
• Families with multiple problems: a new approach (105Kb PDF file, 9 pages)
• Getting the best from data (1Mb PDF file, 16 pages)
• Children our ultimate investment (UK) - Birmingham presentation (363Kb PDF file, 22 pages)
• 10 years: what we have learned about children, parents and disadvantage (176Kb PDF file, 11 pages)
• A family revolution (432Kb PDF file, 11 pages)
• Children our ultimate investment (UK) - Manchester presentation (684Kb PDF file, 30 pages)
• Families, parents and carers: 3 reviews (614Kb PDF file, 15 pages)
• Family action (136Kb PDF file, 20 pages)
• Local authorities research consortium - cost effectiveness and early intervention (1Mb PDF file, 17 pages)
• Working with parents with mental health support needs (772Kb PDF file, 21 pages)
• C4EO tailored support (604Kb PDF file, 11 pages)

Events

Please check again later for more events...

About local practice examples

As with all C4EO themes, C4EO recognises that not all useful knowledge about ‘what works’ and why, is to be found in research reports and papers. We are therefore keen to hear about practice that is leading to significantly improved outcomes for children, young people and their families.

We will incorporate validated local practice examples into our full reviews on what works, which will be shared with other decision-makers in the children’s services field. We will also include them as a special body of evidence on this website.

To be validated, practice examples need to be supported by some evidence which shows the outcomes and changes that have been achieved.

Submit local practice examples

If you would like to submit an example of effective local practice, please:

1. Signup to the C4EO website if you haven't already.
2. Login and complete the local practice online submission form

Alternatively you can:

1. Download a copy of the local practice submission form (77Kb Word file, 6 pages)
2. Send your completed form to C4EOTeam@NFER.ac.uk

Further information

• Further information about validated local practice (87Kb Word file, 3 pages)
• Guidance on how to complete the submission form and the validation process (47Kb PDF file, 4 pages)

If you have any queries regarding validated local practice, please do not hesitate to contact Monica Hetherington at NFER via C4EOTeam@nfer.ac.uk.

Further information about the call for effective local practice examples under the Early Intervention theme (57Kb PDF file, 7 pages).

Interactive data

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