Issue - meetings

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, People, which presented the new Everyone Early Help Strategy (the Strategy) which combined services for children, adults and public health.

Members were advised that this transformation in thinking was about undertaking a whole system review of the approach to Early Help and Prevention, with a focus on increasing the resilience of communities and their potential to help themselves. This would be supported by a planned prioritisation of resources, integration, collaboration and understanding the benefits that Early Help could have on a wide range of longer term outcomes for everyone involved.

The report detailed Halton’s approach and long-standing commitment to Early Help and Prevention across all agencies and strategic partners. It was reported that within the Strategy were five key aims and three priorities, where all agencies would need to work towards helping embed Early Help principles. These principles were noted as being:-

·       The right early help in the right place, at the right time;

·       Ensuring a whole system approach to early help with strong partnership working; and

·       Empowering local people and communities to build capacity and resilience, to enable people and communities to do more for themselves.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the comments on the Strategy content be noted; and

2)    the Board supports the implementation of the Strategy.