Case studies

This case study shows the excellent work that public health in local government is doing to commission for quality and best value across all areas.

This case study shows the excellent work that public health in local government is doing to commission for quality and best value across all areas.

This case study shows the excellent work that public health in local government is doing to commission for quality and best value across all areas.

Bexley is keen to increase civic participation and citizen power, rates for which vary across the borough.

During September-December 2018 we conducted a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 705 Worcestershire County Council (WCC) domiciliary care users to reduce the number of unpaid service invoices and increase the number of people who sign-up to direct debit. We tested two behaviourally optimised conditions against the control across the Invoice, Reminder 1 and Reminder 2 phases. Relative to the control, our test letters significantly increased: direct debit sign ups by 61% (P<.10), people paying their invoice via the WCC website and automated telephone line by 33% (P<.10), and people calling the helpline by 36% (P<.20).

With official figures estimating that there are at least 13,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK, the issue is a national challenge. Katherine Lloyd, Communications Team Leader (Campaigns and Digital) at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, explains how the council translated this national picture into a local reality and helped residents to understand that nowhere is immune from the problem.

Bradford Council has been tackling problems with child sexual exploitation (CSE) head-on for some years and is now identifying and helping a growing number of victims. More recently the council, working with partners, has turned its attention to criminal exploitation.

Bristol Council has adopted a public health approach to tackling violent crime – and in doing so is fully engaging the community.  A stakeholder group has helped to design and implement the strategy, while community champions have been recruited to work with young people. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence

Liverpool has been rocked by a number of stabbings of young people recently. The city council responded by working with partners to launch a programme of support in schools to deter young people from carrying knives. This case study is an example of how councils are tackling youth violence.

The Safer London charity is working with councils across the capital to help young women caught up in criminal networks and at risk of sexual exploitation. Advocates working alongside council teams help hundreds of young women every year to escape the abuse.