Service tackling deprivation

Health and social care providers have been recognised for their efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable young people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, along with South Lanarkshire Community Planning Partnership, picked up a quality improvements award for their work to improve services for babies, children, young people and families. The South Lanarkshire team earned the award for a project that increased the number of families in deprived areas that took up the 27- to 30-month child health review (CHR).

An important milestone in a child’s life, the CHR is where the health visitor can work with the family to identify and respond to any development needs that a child has.

Vivian Boxall, children and young people’s improvement collaborative co-ordinator, said:“Family uptake of the CHR in areas of multiple deprivation was particularly low and a quality improvement package was developed, tested and implemented to improve this.

“As a result, the health visiting teams have achieved a 26 per cent increase in uptake of the CHR and closed the uptake inequity gap from 11 per cent to four per cent between children living in the most and least deprived areas.”

The Quality Improvement Awards are designed to celebrate innovative work that ensures every child has the best possible start in life.