Case Study: Children and Young Persons Partnership (Triple D+S) Forum – A Collaborative Approach to Supporting Young People in Kent and Medway
Overview
In Kent and Medway, a pioneering pilot known as the Children and Young Persons Partnership (Triple D+S) Forum – Discuss, Decide, Deliver (Do) plus Safety—was launched to strengthen collaboration around children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. Rooted in i-THRIVE principles, this initiative brings professionals together to creatively and compassionately meet the needs of young people aged 5–18.
The Challenge
Practitioners from VCSE organisations reported that they were often supporting children with needs or risks beyond their service remit. This highlighted a gap in coordinated care and a need for a system-wide response that could better support children and young people with complex emotional needs.
Catalyst for Change
Inspired by NHSE guidance on neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams, the Children and Young Persons Partnership (Triple D+S) Forum was designed to provide a safe, trauma-informed space for professionals to collaborate—with the child’s consent—on personalised support plans. The goal: to meet unmet needs early and effectively, using the collective expertise of the system.
Co-Designing the Solution
The Forum was co-produced by stakeholders across Kent and Medway’s health, social care, and mental health systems. It took a year of dialogue and development to align partners around a shared vision and for the targeted cohort of children and young people.
Young people played a key role in shaping the initiative, helping to design the consent process and information leaflet. Their voices were central to ensuring the Forum would be respectful, inclusive, and empowering.
Key Innovations
The Forum offers:
- A multi-agency discussion space for professionals to explore concerns and ideas with the child’s consent.
- A trauma-informed, healing-centred approach to care planning.
- A focus on i-THRIVE needs: Seeking Advice, Getting Help, and Risk Support.
- Embedding i-THRIVE principles: common language, needs-led care, partnership working, accessibility, and shared decision-making.
Making It Work
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Building Trust and Collaboration
It took time to build trust and shared accountability across agencies. A key challenge was agreeing on a risk protocol—a concept not previously embedded in Kent and Medway’s governance structures.
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Responsive Innovation
NELFT, the specialist mental health provider, responded by launching a professional consultation line for education, health, and social care practitioners. This has been well received and supports frontline decision-making.
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Empowering Young People
Children and young people helped shape the Forum’s materials and processes, ensuring their voices are present in every discussion. This promotes shared decision-making and builds trust.
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Strengthening the System
The Forum is designed to improve awareness of services, foster open communication, and support stronger partnership working. It’s a step toward a future where collaboration is embedded at every neighbourhood level.
Looking Ahead
The pilot began in July 2025 in West Kent and will run for six months. The long-term ambition is that such forums will no longer be needed—because collaboration and shared knowledge will be standard practice across the system.
For more information, contact: CYPPartnershipForum@nhs.net
Conclusion
The Triple D+S Forum represents a bold step forward in Kent and Medway’s journey toward integrated, compassionate care for young people. By centring the child’s voice, fostering professional collaboration, and embracing i-THRIVE principles, the initiative is helping to build a system where every child feels supported, safe, and heard.