The strategy sets out the council’s ambitions for the next four years and describes how the local authority aims to provide help and support for families at the earliest opportunity, while promoting positive outcomes for children and families.
The strategy sets out the council’s ambitions for the next four years and describes how the local authority aims to provide help and support for families at the earliest opportunity, while promoting positive outcomes for children and families.
The council has adopted the phrase “Family Help” to encompass Early Help, Early Intervention and Prevention, with the new Family Help offer implementing a partnership model of delivery, which includes Health partners, Police, Education, Local Authority, Voluntary and Community sectors working together to identify needs within families as early as possible.
Read the report here on the council’s website which describes the Family Help Model in more detail and sets out their six overarching priorities and their approach to delivering them:
- Enhance collaboration and partnership working among local agencies.
- Embed a culture of ‘Family Help’ across services.
- Strengthen family resilience and promote positive parenting.
- Improve Family Help experience.
- Improve the educational outcomes and life chances of children and young people.
- Improve our use of data and quality processes to drive improvements.
A new Family Help Partnership Board (FHPG) will oversee the delivery of the strategy, and ensure sufficient progress is being made.
Councillor Janet Battye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said “Our vision in Westmorland and Furness is for every child and young person to have the best start in life, to grow, to thrive, and to be prepared for adult life. We are already receiving positive feedback from parents and schools about the improved Family Help offer, and our family help strategy means we can lay out our 6 core priority areas in order to enable us to help our families as quickly as we can.
I’m really pleased we are now launching our new Family Help strategy, based around Family Hubs across Westmorland and Furness, building on the successful start we’ve made in Barrow and Dalton meaning that children, young people, and families can get help local to where they live. I’m also pleased that we are now looking again at developing youth work with and for our young people.
“We’re committed to working with partners, as well as children, young people and families to improve the family help experience.”
Milorad Vasic, Director of Children’s Services at Westmorland and Furness Council, added:
“Targeted Family Help is where families have not been able to effect positive change with the support of universal services and they need additional support. This may be an enhanced, more intensive and/or specialist support.
“It might include parenting intervention, mental health and emotional wellbeing support, targeted youth support, youth justice services, and specific housing services. Targeted Family Help can support children and families who have multiple needs, or whose circumstances might make them more vulnerable.
“Our ultimate aim with this new strategy is to ensure children, young people and families have access to the help and support they need, in the right place, at the right time by the right service.”
Some feedback from schools and families:
Head teacher, Eden valley
“There is a general feeling that the whole Family Help service has upped its game, information sharing, training and supporting – lots of positive experiences of support from area Early Help Officers and the DSL supervision offer to all of our schools”.
Head teacher, South Lakes
“The support of our EHO has been brilliant, she attends difficult/complex TAF meetings, helps us with planning - we do not know what we did before she came”.
Head teacher, Infants School, Barrow
I really appreciate the help and support from the EH team they are always at the end of the phone or email for help, advice and have a wealth of information to share. The Family Help Clinics have been really helpful in gaining a wider insight into the families needs. It's useful to discuss assessments, procedures and gain valuable help and advice.”
Designated Safeguarding Lead School
“I now meet with our EHO every month to monitor and review open EH’s and potential cases which have unmet needs. I gain good advice and guidance with all cases discussed and support in changes, processes and procedures alongside staff training when needed. Having a named worker assigned to the college has been a huge asset and support for staff and students.”
Parent feedback:
“Mum feels that the intervention has had a significant positive impact upon the family and they have got support in place now, that she didn't know was available previously.
Supported by all the agencies, mum feels that she has been able to address her own issues and has people who understand her breakdown and alcohol misuse and the children have people available who can talk to and support them about home life.”
Find out more at Westmorland and Furness Family Help: https://wandffamilyhelp.org.uk/