Early activity and impact of a neighbourhood multidisciplinary team that integrates health and social support for underserved children and young people in Birmingham, UK: an observational study.

Abstract

Background: The Sparkbrook Children's Zone (SCZ) is an integrated health and social care offer for children and young people (CYP) in an economically marginalised area of Birmingham, UK. This study sought to measure: clinic reach to CYP living in deprivation; proportion of CYP receiving preventive health offers; referral rate to secondary care; proportion of CYP referred to a family support worker.

Methods: Observational study using routinely collected data to evaluate activity and impact of the SCZ. SCZ weekly clinics, embedded in a partner primary care network, are located in Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East, Birmingham's second most populous ward with a young population, high diversity and high infant mortality. The clinics provide preventive health, clinical care, mental health support and social support to CYP <16 years. UK Health Research Authority approval reference: 25/PR/0168.

Results: From March 2022 to December 2024, 2265 CYP were booked into clinics (93.5% slots taken up); 89% of families were from the bottom Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile.Preventive healthcare: immunisation advice increased from 10.7% in 2023 to 40.2% in 2024; oral health promotion from 29.2% to 46.8%; smoking cessation advice from 1.8% to 12.5%; 97% eligible children received Healthy Start vitamins; 83% had body mass index measured.Clinical care: 73.8% of CYP discharged after seeing General Practitioner/paediatrician, 3.8% referred to secondary care, 14.7% patients were not brought to appointments.Social support: 28.2% of CYP referred to a family support worker. Five top reasons for referral: feeding, behaviour, activities, special educational needs and disabilities, parenting skills.

Conclusion: Initial data suggest preventive health and social support can be successfully integrated in a neighbourhood health offer for CYP living in deprivation, with low referral rates to secondary care.