Prevention Framework to promote good health
The Prevention Framework is an umbrella framework to apply a Health in All Policies approach across the council and our partners across the health and care system.
Background
The Prevention Framework was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when health and care services were changing how they work together. The NHS, local authorities, voluntary organisations and community partners began working as one integrated care system.
This change made preventing illness and reducing health inequalities much more important across the health and care sector. This includes action on wider factors that affect people's health.
Prevention of ill health and promotion of good health and well-being continues to be a priority in our ambition to be a fairer, compassionate and more sustainable borough.
The framework will continue to be systematically updated to consider the national and local context, needs and priorities. The latest update was in 2026 and it remains relevant for place and neighbourhoods.
Prevention focuses on helping people stay healthy, avoiding illness and managing conditions early. This can happen in different ways – from supporting people to stay well in the first place, to spotting problems early, to helping manage health issues so they don’t get worse. Prevention happens at three levels: people, communities and the environment.
The term 'prevention' is used in different ways across health and social care, and the Prevention Framework covers all types of prevention.
Prevention Framework model
The Prevention Framework model shows that prevention happens at three different levels to support people, communities and environment.
At this centre of the model, the aim is to embed prevention as a whole system approach that helps reduce health inequalities and supports everyone to live healthier lives.
Surrounding this are the framework’s key principles. These include:
- Using evidence and behavioural insights
- Working in partnership
- Applying sustainable approaches
- Sharing learning
- Taking a population-based approach
These principles guide the process of how prevention can be applied across the system.
Underpinning the model are the delivery mechanisms – the practical ways prevention is put into action. These include:
- Developing policy
- Providing prevention-focused services and lifestyle support
- Forming strong delivery partnerships
- Continually measuring outcomes and learning
Together, these mechanisms are the ‘what is being delivered’ when applying the Prevention Framework in real world practice.