Families in Stoke-on-Trent will soon access support more easily through a new family help programme, the local delivery of the government's Families First Partnership.
The scheme is designed to make support simpler, earlier and more effective by placing one trusted practitioner at the centre of each family's journey. A Family Help Lead Practitioner will work with every family who needs this level of support, meaning families will no longer need to repeat their story to multiple teams.
How the scheme will work
Family Help Lead Practitioners will bring together support from education, health, early help, housing and wider services. The programme focuses on early intervention so issues can be addressed before they become crises.
Support may include help for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), guidance for families from different cultural backgrounds, support for families where a parent is in custody and practical day-to-day assistance.
Building on existing provision
In Stoke-on-Trent, the new programme will build on the success of the existing Family Matters programme. The two offers are distinct but closely linked, creating a seamless pathway of support across the city.
Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "In Stoke-on-Trent we want families to get the right support at the right time, without the stress of repeating their story to different services. A single point of contact will make that possible."
She added: "One trusted practitioner will build a relationship with each family, coordinate help and make support clearer and more joined up. By stepping in earlier, we can make support less stressful and more effective – helping families through challenges before they become crises."
Claire Bailey, Managing Director of the Children and Families Care Group at the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The Families First Partnership Programme puts health and support at the heart of family life – strengthening wellbeing by supporting families early, working together across services, including MPFT's Integrated 0-19 Health Visiting & School Nursing Service and building the foundations for healthier, more resilient communities."
