HSJ Awards 2025: Early Intervention and Prevention for Children, Young People and Families Award

WINNER
Hertfordshire Community Trust
FOLLOW Initiative - Top tips for talking in early years

Partnered by

Hertfordshire Community Trust’s Speech and Language Therapy Early Years Team has developed the FOLLOW initiative to strengthen early intervention and prevention services while empowering parents and professionals to support children’s communication development.

Communication skills form the foundation of social interaction and learning, serving as strong predictors of children’s academic achievement and social wellbeing. The FOLLOW programme uses an acronym to represent six key evidence-based interaction strategies that both parents and professionals can implement to foster children’s communication skills development.

Read a detailed case study about this project at HSJ Solutions.

Highly commended

The Rotherham FT: Diabetes Technology: Onboarding and Beyond

Finalists

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB: BNSSG Vanguard delivering the CYP Framework for Integrated Care (Community) Catalyst for Change

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough FT: Early Access, Lasting Impact: Transforming Mental Health Care for Children and Young People through Community Music Therapy

Coventry and Warwickshire ICB: Coventry and Warwickshire Trauma Informed Vanguard Project: Positive Directions

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board: Cwm Taf Morgannwg Baby and Toddler Voice

Humber Teaching FT: Transforming Early Intervention and Diagnostics for Autism: Integrating Neurodiversity and Speech and Language Therapy Services

Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB: Portsmouth Neurodiversity Multi-Disciplinary Team