Government promises £500m for early help and preventive services

The Government says it is trying to ‘build back crumbling family support services’ with an announcement that it will double early help funding for councils across England.

Labour says it will also introduce new guidance – in the form of Families First Partnership Programme – to set a ‘clear expectation’ on all councils and their partners to reform family support services to enable earlier intervention and better protect children from harm.

Key reforms include introducing a single ‘front door’ to support services in every local area. This will make it clear to families struggling with complex needs such as mental health issues, disabilities and substance misuse, where and how they can access help.

One suggestion is bringing different teams and services into an existing setting, such as a family hub. It says bringing help from health visitors, housing support teams and mental health specialists into one place, will make it clear to parents where to access help and improve join up with existing universal support.

The Government says it wants to end the frustrating experience of vulnerable families being passed from team to team, forced to tell their story time and time again by enabling thousands more family help leads to be matched with families to coordinate support and resources, taking responsibility for getting them the support they need to stop issues escalating.

“For too long, vulnerable children and families have been left to struggle – battling fragmented services and receiving support when it’s too late,” Children’s Minister, Janet Daby said.

“Backed by over £500m and delivering our Plan for Change, we’re putting an end to this injustice and building back crumbling family support services, to keep children safe and enable more families to achieve and thrive together.

“Whether seeking help with supporting a child’s development or for substance misuse, families can feel assured that they will get the right help at the right stage, as this government delivers the real change that matters to families.”

It is hoped that the reforms will drive greater collaboration between agencies, bringing together professionals with different expertise and backgrounds.

Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive Officer at the National Children’s Bureau, welcomed the announcement, saying the Families First Partnership Programme has ‘enormous potential’ to provide earlier support and better address the needs of children within their family networks.

“With further investment in preventative services, shared workforce development and stability, these reforms present a huge opportunity to reorient child and family services towards enabling and supporting wellbeing.

“It is critical that roll out is informed by the ongoing evidence from the FFC pathfinders and that all children, including those with disabilities, are able to benefit.”

Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive of Foundations – the What Works Centre for Children and Families – said the plans highlight the importance of using evidence about how to keep children safe in their family networks.

“We know that evidence-based approaches to support parenting and family relationships can significantly improve children's outcomes. They can help steer children safely away from care, reduce their risk of harm, and help them to thrive.

“It's crucial that local practice is informed by evidence about what works to support families, protect children, and help them thrive. The government highlights Foundations' Practice Guides, commissioned by the DfE, as a key source for local councils on the evidence about how best to deliver support that makes a positive difference for families.

“We welcome the 'family first' approach that the FFP Guide takes to decision-making about children's care. The proposed requirement for local councils to offer family-led meetings early is underpinned by our findings that Family Group Conferences before court proceedings can prevent children going into care and help keep them safely with their families.

“We look forward to working with local leaders and partners to implement evidence-based practice that can transform the lives of children, young people and families across the country.”