Policy-Buddy-Transforming-Childrens-Services-with-Generative-AI Polly impact report

Open report here.

Children's services across the UK are navigating unprecedented challenges. Rising caseloads, increasingly complex needs, and persistent staffing pressures have created a perfect storm that can threaten service quality and staff wellbeing. Social workers and managers also report spending valuable hours searching for and interpreting policies, procedures, and legislative frameworks—time that can be better spent in direct work with children and families.

North Yorkshire Council has long been a leader in driving innovation to both manage pressures effectively and enable outstanding practice. Policy Buddy was born from a simple but powerful question: What if we could harness the capabilities of world class generative AI to provide instant, reliable knowledge support to frontline practitioners? Our vision centres on creating a digital assistant that empowers professionals with the information they need, precisely when they need it, reducing administrative burden and supporting confident decision-making.

Beyond the immediate benefits to individual practitioners, Policy Buddy aims to foster a forward-thinking, technology-positive workplace culture. By introducing intuitive AI tools that directly genuinely address pain points, we're helping local authorities embrace digital transformation in ways that feel supportive rather than disruptive.

Children's services professionals can spend hours navigating complex policy documents and summarising key information, taking valuable time away from supporting vulnerable families.

“I want to know more, so I am doing justice to the work I am doing and the children I work with - the AI buddy is a neurodivergent social worker’s bestie! …I have had 3 x viability assessments, 2 x assessment plans, 1 x statement and 1 x court care plan to get done in less than a week… I have managed to write them and get them to managers for QA..! The AI buddy has helped me no end in finding the research the evidence, and the language when I have brain block, so THANK YOU very much for creating the ultimate accessory for my brain!”

–Email from a North Yorkshire Council social worker