Why Data & Insight are the keys to smarter Local Government Prevention Models

Local governments everywhere are under pressure. Service demand is climbing, budgets are shrinking, and the societal issues councils are tackling aren’t getting any easier. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to wait for problems to explode before you act. Prevention models, driven by data and insight, offer a smarter, more sustainable way forward.

This isn’t about quick fixes. Prevention means a fundamental shift in thinking, from reacting to crises to preventing them entirely. With the right systems, data, and cultural changes in place, councils can transform how they support their communities.

The Theory of Prevention

Let’s get to the heart of it: prevention in local government is about being proactive. It’s about catching problems early, or better yet, stopping them from happening at all. Prevention is typically broken down into three levels:

1. Primary Prevention: Tackling problems before they even arise. This might mean promoting healthier lifestyles or helping people build financial resilience. Example: Sunderland City Council’s Better Health at Work programme supported employees’ mental health and reduced workplace stress. The result? An 18% drop in sickness absence, saving the council ￡500,000.
2. Secondary Prevention: Spotting risks early and intervening to stop problems escalating. Example: Milton Keynes Council’s Homelessness Prevention Service used integrated data to identify households at risk of eviction. Early action reduced homelessness presentations by 32% and saved ￡2.1 million in temporary accommodation costs.
3. Tertiary Prevention: Reducing the long-term impact of crises that have already happened. Example: Glasgow City Council’s Housing First programme helped rough sleepers rebuild their lives, reducing repeat homelessness by 75% and saving ￡830,000 annually in emergency accommodation costs.

Prevention isn’t just good policy, it’s common sense. It’s the difference between constantly firefighting and making your services fireproof.

The Role of Data & Insight in Prevention

Now, let’s talk about the secret sauce: data. Without it, prevention models simply don’t work. With it, councils can spot risks, predict outcomes, and intervene at just the right moment.

What data can do

1. Integrate Systems: Most councils operate in silos. Bringing together data from housing, health, benefits, and police provides a full picture of resident needs. Example: Kent County Council’s integrated platform reduced child protection interventions by 20%, saving ￡3.4 million annually.
2. Predict Risks: Machine learning can identify patterns humans might miss, flagging risks early. Example: Durham County Council’s Predictive Child Neglect Model reduced care placements by 17% and saved ￡2.6 million over three years.
3. Provide Real-Time Alerts: Dashboards can highlight issues as they emerge. Example: Camden Council recovered ￡450,000 in council tax arrears by using dashboards to target support to struggling single-parent households.
4. Map Hotspots: Geospatial analysis shows exactly where to focus resources. Example: Manchester City Council used mapping to target youth unemployment, reducing it by 14% and saving ￡1.2 million in benefits.

Data isn’t just useful, it’s transformative.

Learning from Barking & Dagenham’s Community Solutions model

Barking & Dagenham’s Community Solutions model is a shining example of what prevention can look like in action. Launched in 2017 as part of the council’s Ambition 2020 programme, Community Solutions is built on a simple idea: bring services together, focus on prevention, and design everything around the needs of residents.

What makes Community Solutions work?

1. Resident-Cantered Design: The model focuses on what residents need, not what departments provide. It’s a seamless “no wrong door” approach.
2. Integrated Services: CS combines housing, employment, financial support, and more to prevent duplication and deliver holistic solutions.
3. Data-Driven Decisions: Platforms like One View allow the council to identify vulnerable residents and intervene early.
4. Cultural Transformation: Staff are empowered to think creatively and work collaboratively, breaking down traditional silos.
5. Prevention Over Cure: The aim is simple - fix problems before they escalate into crises.

What has it achieved?

The numbers tell a compelling story:

• Demand Reduction: Households in temporary accommodation dropped by 21%, from 1,861 in 2018 to 1,469 in 2021.
• Financial Savings: ￡3.4 million was saved through better working methods, with an additional ￡1.7 million from reduced demand.
• Improved Outcomes: NEET (not in education, employment, or training) rates fell from 4.2% to 3.7%, and over 1,300 residents secured employment in a single year.
• Covid-19 Response: Over 8,000 shielded residents received support, and ￡1 million in additional income was unlocked through the Homes and Money Hub.

What could be better?

No system is perfect, and the LGA Peer Review (download the full review HERE) highlighted areas for improvement:

1. Sustaining Leadership Resilience: The model relies heavily on key leaders. Building a broader leadership team could help sustain progress.
2. Data System Functionality: While One View is a strength, staff need better access and training to make the most of it.
3. Embedding Community Resilience: Strengthening partnerships and embedding asset-based approaches (like Barking’s Every One Every Day initiative) can help residents help themselves.

Steps to implement a prevention model

Building a prevention-first approach is no small feat, but the results are worth it. Here’s how to make it happen:

1. Secure Leadership Buy-In (Months 1–3): Prevention needs champions at the top.
2. Build the Case (Months 2–6): Show how prevention saves money and improves lives.
3. Invest in Data Capabilities (Months 6–12): Recruit data experts, integrate systems, and adopt platforms like One View.
4. Pilot and Learn (Months 12–18): Test predictive models in targeted areas to refine your approach.
5. Break Down Silos (Months 18–24): Create cross-functional teams with shared goals.
6. Reimagine Assets (Months 18–30): Turn libraries and community centers into hubs for multi-service support.
7. Shift Mindsets (Months 12–36): Train staff to focus on outcomes, not processes.
8. Scale Up (Months 24–36): Roll out successful pilots across all service areas.
9. Secure Funding (Months 12–36): Prevention isn’t free, but it pays for itself. Build it into your Medium-Term Financial Plan.
10. Evaluate and Adapt (Month 36 onward): Prevention is an ongoing process, keep tweaking and improving.

In Summary

Local governments face unprecedented challenges, but prevention offers a way forward that’s both practical and transformative. The theory of prevention, whether primary, secondary, or tertiary, is simple: act early to save lives, improve outcomes, and reduce costs.

The role of data in making this happen cannot be overstated. Data is the key to integrating systems, predicting risks, and focusing resources where they’ll have the most impact. Examples from Kent, Durham, Camden, and Manchester show how data-driven insights lead to real, measurable results.

And then there’s Barking & Dagenham’s Community Solutions model, a trailblazer in prevention. Its holistic approach, data-driven strategies, and focus on cultural transformation have delivered substantial savings, reduced demand, and improved lives. Yet, even this model reminds us there’s always room to grow: better data access, stronger leadership resilience, and deeper community partnerships will be critical to its long-term success.

The steps to implementing a prevention model, while ambitious, are achievable. Secure leadership buy-in, invest in data capabilities, break down silos, and create multi-service hubs. Shift mindsets, pilot predictive tools, and embed prevention into your council’s Medium-Term Financial Plan.

Prevention is not just about saving money; it’s about transforming lives and ensuring local government remains resilient in the face of growing demand. The choice is clear: continue firefighting or embrace prevention. The future of local government depends on making the right decision today.

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