We have collated a set of potential actions for trusts to take to tackle health inequalities experienced by children and young people. These are built on findings from available research and evidence, insights from trusts and learnings from a recent webinar we held on Core20PLUS5 for children and young people.
- Work with partners at place and within the integrated care system to increase understanding of children and young people's health needs in their local area through joint analysis of Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) information and health service data. This could lead to the identification of specific groups of children and young people that require targeted support and interventions, which may vary in each locality (the 'PLUS' groups).
- Embed the Core20PLUS5 framework for children and young people within practice in the trust, including raising awareness of the model among staff and ensuring accountability for delivering on the actions at board level.
- Review existing trust initiatives to reduce health inequalities and consider whether they address inequalities in access and outcomes experienced by children and young people.
- Consider whether staff are sufficiently aware of some of the dimensions of supporting children and young people (including those working outside of dedicated services for their age groups).
- Consider the specific experiences of children and young people from more deprived backgrounds and the barriers they may face in accessing services. Poverty Proofing© research provides a range of insights for trusts on how to ensure services are accessible. This could include providing free food for children, young people and their families during their stays in hospital settings.
- Implement prevention initiatives, or outreach initiatives, specifically aimed at improving support, information and communication with groups of children and young people, and their families – such as social prescribing.
- Where possible, consider delivering zero to 25 healthcare services for children and young people, which provide developmentally appropriate care and ensure a smooth transition between paediatric and adult services for young people with long-term health conditions.
- Seek to meaningfully involve and include children and young people in the design and delivery of services, such as through youth forums.