National recognition for Children's Services thanks to "game-changing" digital approach

An innovative digital approach to create quality Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for children and young people has seen Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council scoop a national award.

The Council beat other local authorities to win the Digital Transformation Award at the Municipal Journal's national awards on Friday (23 June).

The award commends those using digital technology which positively changes local authority services. It is judged by influential figures from across the public and private sectors.

The Council was shortlisted for the award after it worked with company Invision360, to develop a new way to measure and analyse the quality of new EHCPs, a statutory document for children with complex special education, health and care needs. 

The new digital tool allows Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Children's Services to focus on measuring the quality of the plans. This has led to a system-wide process which improves the consistency of the plans with the aim of ensuring that those who deliver support to children and young people have the best information possible.

Councillor Lisa Evans, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "I'm delighted that the work we have done to improve the quality of Education, Health and Care Plans across the Borough has been fully recognised.

"We've worked alongside Stockton-on-Tees' Parent Carer Forum and Invision 360 to improve the process and ensure quality is measured - and what we have achieved is game-changing.  By embracing this new technology we can easily review information across the board which means we can spot where further improvements are needed.

"Of course, we are not complacent and understand the challenges we face - the quality and consistency of EHCPs is a national issue but as part of our improvement journey we are working hard to address these issues.

"I am honoured to hold this position and am incredibly proud of the hard work and commitment of the teams involved. This highly coveted award is recognition of that dedication and what we have achieved."

For Council news direct to your inbox sign up to our My Council Newsletter.