Piloting the Common Outcomes Framework in West Essex
In October 2023, the West Essex Children & Young People’s Partnership Board embarked on a pilot project to apply the Common Outcomes Framework with the aim of reinvigorating partnership and engagement among local organisations. What initially started as a workshop to map collective efforts under each outcome pillar, evolved into a structured annual programme, with bi-monthly meetings focusing on each common outcome, culminating in an annual review and forward planning session. Champions were nominated for each of the common outcomes to facilitate discussions and shape meeting agendas.
Central to the initiative in West Essex is the commitment to putting local children and families at the heart. Surrounding them are a range of local services across education, health, and care, alongside community and voluntary sector partners. Each partner contributes to achieving outcomes for children, young people, and families relevant to their area of expertise, aligning with existing service-level frameworks and key performance indicators. Under the Partnership Board, members collaboratively evaluate and enhance their collective impact cantered around the five pillars: safe, healthy, happy, learning, and engaged. Coming together under this framework has reaffirmed the shared aspiration of the Board to strengthen and improve the physical and emotional well-being of children and young people while ensuring they receive the necessary support to reach their full potential.
The introduction of the Common Outcomes Framework has transformed the way members of the Board interact and collaborate. By aligning discussions around specific outcomes, members have gained deeper insights into each other’s work, fostering stronger connections and synergies. Feedback from members has included the following:
“The Common Outcomes Framework, using the five pillars, has given an excellent focus to the aims and objectives of the Board. It also allows organisations to adopt this concept within their own teams and workstreams, creating synergy towards a common goal for children and young people.”
“This framework has given us focus on key subject matters and facilitated meaningful interactions with professionals, allowing us to share specific topics and experiences with the wider group. It helps us plan forward and concentrate on one area at a time.”
“Using the Common Outcomes Framework as the foundation for the Children’s Partnership Board has made our meetings more than just a platform for updates. We have been able to dive into detailed discussions, leading to greater partnership working across West Essex.”
Over the past year, the partnership has experienced significant improvement in engagement, with members increasingly valuing the opportunity to connect regularly. The success of this initiative demonstrates that impactful collaboration does not necessarily require additional budgets or a series of projects for oversight; rather, it thrives on shared responsibility, strategic alignment, and a commitment to maximising collective impact.
As the West Essex Partnership reflects on the pilot year, members have begun considering ways to refine and enhance their approach including opportunity to update on other outcome pillars between focus sessions and deepening discussions into identified issues. Moving forward, the Board will explore the integration of indicators to further focus efforts, track progress, and demonstrate measurable outcomes. Additionally, with the Family Hub model becoming well-embedded locally across west Essex, the Common Outcomes approach presents an opportunity to grow the Family Hub concept further towards establishing a Family Hub Network through the Partnership.
To conclude, the implementation of the Common Outcomes Framework has been a transformative journey for the West Essex Children & Young People’s Partnership Board. By fostering structured collaboration, meaningful discussions, and strategic planning, the Board has strengthened its collective impact and laid the foundation for future growth. As one member aptly summarised: “It has been really great to be part of this transformative year, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together in the coming 12 months.”
Rosalind French
Chair of the West Essex CYP Partnership Board
Assistant Director of Commissioning for Children & Young People, Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB