Salford City Council

This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council- owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself. Children’s services are very much under pressure, and ever more so in the face of a cost of living crisis, adding to the numbers of potentially vulnerable children. There is an imperative to protect vulnerable children, the importance of early intervention and the changing relationship with schools – all under an intense media and now social spotlight. This award is intended to recognise the success of those councils that adopt a genuinely strategic approach to this vital service area in the face of extraordinary challenges. Entries can focus either on a specific aspect of the council’s work on children’s services or the entirety of its work on children’s services.

Strengthening Families is an innovative programme which supports parents who have had children removed from their care in the past and are at risk of recurrent care proceedings. This has led to greater stability for children, preventing removal from birth families for most. The programme goes further; focusing on the long term health and wellbeing of parents and babies, improving child development outcomes through early attachment and bonding, and working with parents towards school readiness for children. This best practice model is being shared with other councils to develop their own approaches suitable for their communities.