i-THRIVE in Cheshire East

A Collaborative Commitment

Cheshire East is embracing the i-THRIVE Framework as a place-based partnership to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people. This approach recognises the vital contribution of every organisation and professional across the area. By working together, we’re creating the conditions for lasting, meaningful change—ensuring children and young people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right way.

Our Journey So Far

Together, partners across Cheshire East have laid strong foundations for implementing the i-THRIVE Framework and driving system-wide transformation. This shared effort marks an important step toward improving outcomes for children and young people.

To support continued progress, governance structures are being developed collaboratively to ensure transparency and alignment with wider strategic priorities across the borough.

What is the THRIVE Framework?

The THRIVE Framework offers a needs-based approach to supporting children and young people aged 0–25, alongside their families and carers. It moves away from traditional tiered models and instead focuses on groupings of need and choice—enabling professionals to deliver more personalised, effective support, and empowering children, young people, and parents to have a greater say in the support they receive.

Delivering THRIVE: The i-THRIVE Model

i-THRIVE is the implementation model that supports the delivery of the THRIVE Framework across a whole population. It promotes: 

• Cross-agency collaboration
• Shared responsibility
• Consistent, high-quality support

 The Five Needs-Based Groupings

 Support is organised into five distinct groupings:

1. Thriving – Support to maintain mental wellbeing and resilience
2. Getting Advice – Early help, signposting, and self-management guidance
3. Getting Help – Goal-focused, evidence-informed interventions
4. Getting More Help – Intensive, specialist support for complex needs
5. Getting Risk Support – Coordinated care for those who may not benefit from traditional interventions but still require risk management

Children and young people may move between these groupings and benefit from different types of support at the same time. For example, a young person receiving specialist care from Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS, formerly known as CAMHS) under 'Getting More Help' may also access ongoing support in school or community settings under 'Thriving', 'Getting Advice', or 'Getting Help'.

Visual Representations of THRIVE

• Support-Based View – Shows the type of support provided for each group
• Experience-Based View – Reflects the state of being of individuals in each group, using language shaped by feedback from young people and families with lived experience

Why i-THRIVE Matters

For Children and Young People

• No ‘wrong door’ – Any adult a child or young person speaks to—whether a teacher, GP, or someone in the community and voluntary sector—can offer support or signpost to appropriate services
• Empowered, Shared Decision-Making – Children, young people, and their families are actively involved in shaping their support. Professionals listen to what matters most to them and guide them to resources and services that best meet their needs.
• Progress monitoring – Those receiving specialist help are supported to evaluate their progress and ensure interventions are effective
• Transparent conversations – Honest discussions about what different interventions can offer—including their limitations—are part of the process

For Professionals Working with Children and Young People 

• Stronger interagency collaboration
• Shared decision-making with children and young people
• A broader, more diverse offer of help and support
• Reduced silo working and clearer pathways between services
• Shorter wait times
• Greater involvement of young people in service design and improvement

Learn More

Watch the i-THRIVE animation – A co-produced introduction to the framework:

Watch on YouTube i-THRIVE animation.

Read the accessible summary document:
Wolpert, M., Harris, R., Hodges, S., Fuggle, P., James, R., Wiener, A., Munk, S. (2019). THRIVE Framework for system change. London: CAMHS Press.

Download the PDF i-THRIVE overview summary leaflet (PDF, 5MB).