The Staffordshire Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner, along with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) partners and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) have jointly funded a systems analysis of children, young people and young adults with complex needs.

The analysis focuses on children from the age of 10 years to adults up to 25 years old with complex needs across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, with a particular focus on those who are involved in or at risk of serious youth violence.

The research identifies system changes that will enable the partnership to deliver the VRA priorities and the National Health Service (NHS) Framework for Integrated Care, along with improved access to services, pathways and outcomes for children, young people, families and communities. In particular the research focuses on:

• profile of need and future predictions;
• service reach and take-up;
• outcome and equality;
• strengths and areas of improvement.

This analysis along with consultations with children & young people and parents & carers, workshops with frontline staff & practitioner and partners has helped to inform the development of the new Violence Reduction Strategy for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.