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Families First takes a strengths-based approach where families are supported to recognise what is working well in their situations to support empowerment and ownership of their growth and development.
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- Background
- FFC pathfinder
- Family network pilot
- National partners
- Participating local authorities
The FFC pathfinder was announced in February 2023 as part of the government’s children’s social care implementation strategy, Stable homes, built on love.
It responds to recommendations from the Independent review of children’s social care, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel report on child protection in England and the Competitions and Market Authority’s market study of children’s social care provision. The pathfinder will test delivery of key strategy commitments.
From July 2023 to March 2025, the programme is investing over £45 million to design and test radical reforms in a number of local areas, across the following policies:
•family help
•child protection
•family network support packages (FNSPs)
•safeguarding partners
The pathfinder draws on evidence and existing good practice, including from other government programmes:
Of the £45 million, £7.8 million has been allocated to fund a subset family network pilot in 7 additional local authorities. The FNP is testing the impact of providing flexible funding for extended family networks through FNSPs to help keep families together and children out of care where appropriate.
The pilot will prioritise family-led solutions by increasing the use of family group decision-making and testing the introduction of FNSPs – a recommendation made by the Independent review of children’s social care.
FNSPs will look at how to reduce the barriers to family networks playing a more active role in providing loving, safe and stable homes for children. This will be done by providing support for children to stay safely at home, through financial and other practical means.
This element of reform will be included as part of the wider pathfinder, but we are also running the standalone pilot to understand the impact of this policy in isolation.
Mutual Ventures, with Innovation Unit, is working as a delivery partner. They are supporting pathfinder and pilot areas with local delivery, and collecting and sharing learning as it emerges from the programme.
The programme will be independently evaluated by an external evaluation partner. The evaluation will support our understanding of the pathfinder and pilot by assessing:
•implementation
•delivery
•impact
•value for money
FFC pathfinder, wave 1 local authorities:
Dorset Lincolnshire Wolverhampton
FFC pathfinder, wave 2 local authorities
Applications to identify wave 2 pathfinder areas are now closed. We are expecting to announce local areas in January 2024.
FNP, wave 1 local authorities:
Brighton and Hove Sunderland Gateshead Telford and Wrekin
When and how to initiate a Families First Assessment (FFA) or Short-Term work. Support with completing Initial FFA's, attend TAF Meetings and assist with evidencing TAF Minutes & Action Plans on EHM. Provide advice and guidance on emerging concerns for a child or family.
Families First can help with things like: Keeping your family safe and well – your health and wellbeing, stress and depression, managing disabilities, eating and exercise, drinking or...
Families First can help you find early help and information to prevent issues from getting worse. If you need more help than your usual support network - for example your...
Jul 26, 2023 · The areas will work to deliver support to families based on 3 principles: Delivering family help through local multi-disciplinary teams working with partners to provide welcoming and...
In essence, Families First is an innovation programme that promotes the development by local authority areas of effective multi-agency systems and support, with a clear emphasis on prevention...
