Framework for Prevention

The refreshed Prevention Framework 2021-2025 promotes the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames’ Council as a public health organisation.

About the prevention framework

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.

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, which include using evidence and behavioural insights, working in partnership, applying sustainable approaches, sharing learning, and 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, and continually measuring outcomes and learning. Together, these mechanisms are the ‘what is being delivered’ when applying the Prevention Framework in real world practice.

Objectives

At the Prevention Framework centre is embedding prevention in all portfolios, policies, and work areas at three interconnecting levels within the borough - people, the community, and the environment to promote positive health and wellbeing and to address health inequalities.

The key objectives of the Prevention Framework are to:

1. Deliver an evidence-based approach to prevention to support the wider Council to strengthen delivery of prevention through its work, 
2. Facilitate making the healthy choice, the easy choice,
3. Support a tailored approach to prevention, 
4. Connect with policies and initiatives to enable prevention work to be sustainable, and
5. Create supportive communities and health-promoting environments.

The refreshed Prevention Framework builds on the learning and work done under the previous framework which ended in 2018. The refresh in 2021 was developed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift to an Integrated Care System across the NHS, local authorities, voluntary sector and community partners locally. This shift significantly elevated prevention of ill-health and reducing health inequalities as key priorities across the health and care sector and encompasses action on wider determinants. Prevention of ill health and promotion of good health and well-being continues to be a priority for the Council in its ambition to be a greener, safer and fairer borough.

The Framework will continue to be systematically updated and refreshed to consider the national and local context, needs and priorities. The latest refresh was done in 2026 and remains relevant for Place and neighbourhoods.