Wendi goes to Wem-ber-ley!

25 June 2008

Bedfordshire County Council’s Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership is up for a prestigious award.

The partnership is a finalist in the Health and Social Care Awards, which will be held on 1 July 2008 at the Wembley Conference Centre. The partnership will be representing the East of England in the Excellence in Commissioning category.

The partnership which includes the Primary Care Trust, has put in place new ways of meeting increasing demand for services to support children and families in need.

This has meant a complete rethink of how services are delivered through new partnerships across the county involving health, childcare, education, police, youth and social care providers. The result has been a major improvement in the lives of many who live in deprived areas.

Councillor David Reedman, Bedfordshire County Council Executive Member for Services for Children and Young People, said: "We set an ambitious goal to improve the lives of and choices for the most vulnerable and underachieving children, young people and families across the region. I’m very happy that Bedfordshire has achieved recognition as a national leader in how we have delivered those crucial services that have made a huge and positive impact."

Wendi Ogle-Welbourn, Bedfordshire County Council’s Assistant Director for Commissioning, added: "The partnership recognised the difficulties facing the most vulnerable and active to deal with them. The result is that children and families are now leading better, safer lives."

The Health and Social Care Awards are run in partnership between the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and the Department of Health. The awards highlight and celebrate innovation and excellence in the provision of frontline health and social care.

ENDS