Maureen McAteer, Scottish Government D The Early Years Collaborative is an outcomes-focused, multi-agency, quality improvement programme, which aims to deliver nationally on the vision and priorities of the Early Years Taskforce. Maureen McAteer, Scottish Government maureen.mcateer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk @maureenmcateer

Improving Health In Scotland : The Challenge Equally Well Improving Health In Scotland : The Challenge Delivering a Healthy Future Good Places, Better Health Curriculum For Excellence National Parenting Strategy Children And Young People Bill Play Strategy Growing Up In Scotland Early Years Framework National context of the Early Years Collaborative; Early years framework 2008 – 10 key elements of transformational change e.g. using the strength of universal services to deliver prevention and early intervention. The Early Years Framework promoted a shift of focus to the earliest moments in a child’s life strengthening universal services shifting resources to pre birth to 8 years identify inequalities and try to address at the earliest opportunity to reduce risk of impact on health and wellbeing at a later point support the development of individual and community assets facilitate capacity building which encourages people to feel in control, resilient and resourceful, increasing their confidence in managing their own lives The EYC is premised on the fact that we know there is strong evidence about costs and outcomes of current and desired practice, but much of this is not being used in daily work. Where we have taken on board the evidence, practice does not always reliably recreate what the evidence tells us, and there is inconsistency and patchy implementation. In other words, there is a gap between what we know works and what we do.

There should be a shift in focus from doing things for or to people, to enabling them to support themselves, their families and communities; Published in 2008 ;- there is a robust body of evidence that shows the importance of the early years in determining a child’s development and future life chances; • It is important to move away from crisis management to prevention and early intervention; • Effective interventions in the early years can also generate significant financial savings at later stages; • The strength of universal services should be used to improve outcomes for children and young people; • When parents and children need support and services these should be delivered in an integrated way, using the child centred and multi-agency approach set out in GIRFEC; • It is vital to have a well trained and well supported workforce.

Christie Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services: With support to build the appropriate skills, confidence, networks and resources, communities can be given the opportunity to take the action that they want. Better organised communities have already demonstrated what can be done, and we believe that every community has the capacity to participate. p47 In June 2011 the Christie Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services highlighted the importance to Scotland of taking action to prevent adverse outcomes. Asset-based approaches fit perfectly with a preventative approach. "By helping individuals grow in capacity at an early stage, they prevent adverse outcomes for health and enhance the likelihood of success in education and employment. We need to reduce future demand by preventing problems arising or dealing with them early on. We should promote a bias towards prevention, helping people understand why this is the right thing to do, the choices it implies as well as the benefits it can bring. "The adoption of preventative approaches, in particular approaches which build on the active participation of service users and communities, will contribute significantly to making the best possible use of money and assets. They will help to eradicate duplication and waste, and critically, take demand out of the system over the longer term." Christie Commission, p55   services may not know enough about the outcomes most valued by people and communities. p42

Ambition To make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up in by improving outcomes, and reducing inequalities, for all babies, children, mothers, fathers and families across Scotland to ensure that all children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed What are asset-based approaches? "There is good evidence that people who feel in control of their lives are more likely to be healthy. It makes sense really. If you feel you are at the mercy of events, you are more likely to feel stressed and to suffer the consequences. "Asset-based approaches are concerned with identifying the factors which support individuals to feel in control of their lives. In doing so, they support health and wellbeing. "Asset based approaches are not new and community development approaches, founded on asset principles, have operated around the world under a range of names for many years. What are the benefits? "Asset-based approaches offer the potential to enhance both the quality and length of life by focusing on the resources that promote the self-esteem and coping abilities of individuals and communities. "The usual public sector approach is to meet people's needs and deficiencies. We do things to people and communities and, in doing so, we encourage people to be passive recipients of services. Asset-based approaches concentrate on enhancing the capacity of people to be in control, and help them be resilient in the face of external events."

@eycollaborative #bestplacetogrowup EYCollaborative@scotland.gsi.gov.uk www.scotland.gov.uk/earlyyears Transformational change does not come easily but requires a raising of awareness, a redesign of how practitioners go about their business, multi-agency training that is based on common language and processes, and the fostering of trust and understanding across services and with children and families” (Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years 2008)