1. State of Child Health report 2017
Presentation for the Early Childhood Forum
12 March 2019

2. What is it?
A single document drawing together a range of child health data from a wide variety of sources
A series of tightly defined indicators
Snapshot of how children and young people’s health is fairing across the UK
Designed to reach a wide variety of audiences

3. Why?
Pioneering and innovative – this data has never been drawn together into one place before
Create a platform to change policy, based on evidence
3. Increase awareness of child
health
4. Increase profile for the College
as a centre for child health
excellence and as a champion
for child health across the four
nations

4. How did we do it?
Life course approach identified key areas of focus for the report:
Conception, pregnancy and infancy
Early years
School age and adolescence
Mortality
Family and social environment
Health conditions of childhood

5. Which indicators did we choose and why?
Indicator is relevant to a large number of infants, children and young people
Robust published data sources were available including contemporary data and trend data from the recent past
Data were available for at least two of the four nations of the UK

6. Why are some key indicators missing?
A number of key indicators could not be included due to a lack of reliable data in any UK nation

7. Decisions, decisions, decisions….
Which data source are best?
Which data are comparable?
Copyright issues
Audit trail for additional calculations

8. Involvement of children and young people
Consultations in 11 settings across the UK working with over 300 children and young people + online surveys
Targeting views on key indicators
Diverse ages, locations, backgrounds and views!
Approach – Roadshows, Takeover Challenges
Use participatory consultation methods such as pasta voting, visual sorting, discussions and 60 second soapboxes
Key indicators included topics such as poverty, mental health, smoking, health eating, physical activity, pregnancy, sexual health, and others. Top 4 topics from CYPF – Communication, PSHE, Mental Health, Poverty.
Key messages from cyp = Children and young people want to hear from an inspirational person who is experienced, credible, influential and relatable – teachers are not always best placed to be this person
Messages should be consistent and repeated using different forums and methods. Reliance on collapsed curriculum days once a year / one off PSHE sessions are not enough
Across the board, it was felt that messaging should start as early as possible, with primary school being the optimum ages in Key Stage 2 (age 7 – 11)
Children and young people need support networks that include adults they feel comfortable talking to who are non-judgmental and informed on where to seek further help
Families need to be supported to become informed on a range of topics of their local area family services directory so they know where to access support
A holistic approach is needed in sharing messages – children and young people reflected the interrelation between different topics (HEADSS)
Be interactive and visual, children and young people were clear on the need to move away from lectures, leaflets and written information. The use of school projects, workshops, drama, pictures, videos, social media and apps were all highlighted as good practice
PSHE and using school as a conduit for health literacy was highlighted through responses as being critical to early intervention and prevention
Clear language that is age and ability appropriate is a must. For children and young people to be empowered around positive choices, they need to understand the language
Look at a youth worker / support worker role in clinics to share information about other health topics
Increase local knowledge of what is available, what the referral pathway is and identify where there are gaps or changes quickly
Improve signposting arrangements – relevant, accessible and timely

9. Key messages – progress is being made

10. Key messages - others are (much) better - why aren’t we?

11. Key messages - massive health inequalities according to social circumstances

12. Key messages - there IS a pathway to improvement

13. Recommendations – part 1
Big tickets
1. Implement a coordinated strategy to improve child health across the UK
2. Develop integrated health and care statistics
3. Develop research capacity to drive improvements in children's health
4. Reduce child poverty and inequality

14. Recommendations – part 2
Public health and prevention
5. Maximise women’s health before, during and after pregnancy
6. Tackle childhood obesity effectively
7. Maximise mental health and wellbeing throughout childhood
8. Strengthen tobacco and alcohol control
9. Provide statutory comprehensive personal, social and health education and sex and relationships education in all schools

15. Recommendations – part 3
Meeting the needs of children
10. Tailor the health system to meet the needs of children and young people, their parents and carers
11. Implement guidance and standards

16. Scorecards