The Big Idea is about intervening early, when a child or young person has needs, to prevent problems becoming bigger. Children's services will be provided locally wherever possible and organised around the needs of the child or young person rather than professional or existing agency boundaries. Working in this way requires that practitioners use common approaches and processes and share information. This will be achieved through a Common Assessment Framework and a Lead Professional coordinating support where more than one agency is involved. A national child register, known as Contact Point will be in place in Bradford in 2008/9. Partners are developing a shared workforce strategy, to ensure that all staff working with children and young people have a common core of skills and knowledge.
From September 2007, many of the Council's Children's services will be delivered in five constituency areas, broken down into 14 smaller Localities.
These will be supported by centrally provided specialist services and the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The management of Children's Services is in the process of being restructured to reflect this new way of working. Education Bradford and other partner agencies are also committed to the Locality approach.
Services delivered locally will include:
| Early Years | School improvement |
| Youth Service | Attendance |
| Extended schools | Behaviour |
| Social Care | Learning Support Services |
| Parental involvement/support | Special Educational Needs |
This list of services is expected to grow, subject to ongoing consultation with partners.
