Children and Young People

Best Start in Life

• Ensure that every child has the best start in life by exploring local system-wide approaches to reducing health inequalities in CYP.
• Further embed the 'Think Family' approach into all relevant assessment processes for children and families across the system and apply professional curiosity that considers life through the eyes and voice of the child.
• Increasing breastfeeding rates and deliver targeted community approaches to increase both breast feeding initiation and continuation to reduce the gap between County Durham and England breast feeding rates and reduce inequality.
• To have a significant and sustained reduction of A&E attendances and hospital admissions caused by unintentional injuries by embedding the unintentional injuries framework for County Durham.
• Improving speech and language and communication through the provision of evidence-based assessment, early intervention and the development of integrated pathways.

Prevention and Early Help

• CYP will be able to access high quality, age appropriate, support, advice and care that meets their physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing needs (right practitioner, right place, right time) including those children with additional needs and vulnerabilities.
• To provide innovative access to support and delivery of services through the enhancement of a digital offer to reflect learning from new approaches during Covid.  This could include increasing the use of video consultation as well as other options.
• Ensure CYP and vulnerable adults are safeguarded and protected from harm.
• Ensure CYP, their families and their carers are engaged in the development and co-production of services.

 Transitions to Adulthood

• Young people will be supported throughout their transition into adulthood.
• Pathways will support young people to have a planned, informed, coordinated and safe transition into adult services.

Best Start in Life

• Reduction in the number of children who are very overweight.
• Reduction in the number of children coming into the care of the Local Authority.
• Delivery in training across the system in Trauma informed care.

Prevention and Early Intervention

• Early identification and intervention for children who have speech language and communication needs.
• Empowering and increasing confidence and resilience for families to understand when self-care is appropriate and when to seek medical advice.

Transition to Adulthood

• Children and young people with vulnerabilities transition at a time most suited to them rather than at a pre-determined biological age.

Transition pathways are individualised and co-produced by young people and their families to reflect their individual needs.