Core Assets Children’s Services project, Turning the Tide, has been shortlisted in the LaingBuisson Awards for the Public Private Partnership Award under the Innovators and Leaders category.

We are working with North Somerset Council, Bridges Fund Management and Outcomes for Children to deliver Turning the Tide, an innovative edge of care service funded through a Social Impact Bond. The aim is to reduce the need for children and young people to be looked after, by either working with families to keep children safely at home, or by keeping care placements short and reuniting children and young people with their families as soon as possible.

We utilise our Safer Stronger Families model to equip children, young people and their families with the skills and coping mechanisms to reduce unwanted behaviour, increase positive family functioning, and build their resilience. Proven evaluation methods, including the Outcomes Star™ and SDQs, help to evidence long-term positive outcomes, with children and young people showing improvements in their ‘Relationships’, ‘Feelings and Behaviours’ and ‘Friends’. One parent commented: “The service bridged and repaired my relationship with my son. I am now equipped with the coaching to deal with any behaviour problems, should they arise.”

The service began in May 2017 and during the first year of delivery the amount of care avoided resulted in estimated savings to the local authority of over £349,000.

The LaingBuisson Awards describes itself as “the Oscars of health and social care” and the ceremony takes place on Thursday 15th November in London – good luck team!