Walsall 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.

Deemed good practice by the Early Intervention Foundation and acknowledged in recent joint targeted area inspection which said children in Walsall are supported by a comprehensive multi-agency early help offer, giving access to a range of support and services, when they need it - Walsall’s early help team and partnership approach is truly making a difference to the lives of Walsall’s families. Relationships with schools have improved dramatically, schools are more confident to take the ‘lead-professional’ role and identify parental conflict. Relationships with other partners, including public and voluntary sector, are stronger than ever, everyone works collaboratively to support our families.