Agenda item

Susan Claydon, Head of Locality and Family Support, to present

Consideration was given to a presentation by the Head of Locality and Family Support in respect of Family Hubs delivery.The family-centred approach was described:

·       Accessible - non-judgemental support in a mix of physical and virtual spaces

·       Attuned to local needs – connecting families with the right help at the right time

·       Whole-family support offered – avoiding ‘bouncing’ between services

·       Informative – the whole range of support is communicated simply and consistently

·       Inclusive – services are responsive and co-produced with parents and families

·       Transformational – improvements are system-wide and long-lasting

The delivery expectations for Family Hubs were identified. The Service was received physically or in person at a family hub building, with the relevant information, professional or practitioner. The Service was accessed through the family hub network but received elsewhere (e.g. VCS organisation, via outreach, clinical setting). Universal and specialist support could be accessed through a digital and virtual offer. There were a range of funded themes.

The Family Hub Principles were also described. These included promoting access through clearly branded and communicated hub buildings, virtual offers and outreach. Moving from services organised for under fives, to families with children of all ages, reduced fragmentation. It was noted that the key emphasis on early years and the ‘Start for Life’ offer would remain. A relationship-centred approach meant that practice in a family hub built on family strengths and looked to improve family relationships to address underlying issues. Joining up locally brought existing family help services together, into a place where services are delivered that is a base for professionals. It was felt that this approach was better connected because family hubs drive progress on joining up professionals, services and providers (state, private, voluntary, community) – through co-location, partnerships, data sharing, shared outcomes and governance. An information gateway allowed families to know about all the services delivered anywhere within the network- physical, virtual or via outreach, and beyond. Family hubs brought together services for families with children of all ages (0-19) or up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with a great Start for Life offer at their core.

Progress with the delivery model was described. Progress included instilling a strong appetite to develop Family Hubs and to deliver transformation across partners; holding regular Task & Finish Groups with agreed chairs across key funded strands; establishing an Operational Group held regularly; facilitating a delivery team; carrying out a needs analysis, coproducing the model of delivery and headline delivery plan which was submitted and agreed by a national team as part of an iterative process; securing wholesale evidence-based training programmes; and developing a digital evidence-based offer for families.

Further elaboration on the role of evidence-based programmes was noted. These programmes included The Solihull Approach Programme, Family Foundation Preparation for Parenthood, Solution Focused Brief Intervention, Triple P Online, Attachment and Bonding, Cultural Competency in maternity and beyond, PEEP (Peers early education programme) Home Learning Environment, Perinatal Mental Health Programme, and Reducing Parental Conflict.

Current work was being undertaken to agree branding and communications, roll out training programmes across public and voluntary sector, develop the digital offer, publish Start for Life Offer, develop the Parent Carer Panel, and to recruit.

In discussion, the following points were raised:-

-       SY ICP/ICB have made school readiness a key aim. It will be important to ensure all areas of Rotherham are reached.

-       Within the SY ICP strategy, the headline for ages 0-5 was to reduce health inequalities. This will require all partners to take a child-centred view rather than a focus on any individual service.

-       The importance of a safe place to sleep also complements this agenda.

-       Further, it will be helpful to parents and children to ensure that Rotherham Health App and Healthy Together are linked in.

-       If libraries could also be linked, these are good resources for signposting and support for the digitisation within communities. Further, the museum group are a resource for engagement with families at community venues.

-       It was agreed that 0-5 is a key age group to focus on to set children up for a good experience of school, especially among those who have additional educational needs. Work on an early years strategy had begun which would reach beyond the existing strategy around childcare sufficiency. It was acknowledged that early years is much more than childcare. As had been seen with the financial inclusion and homelessness strategies, these linkages put Rotherham in a stronger place.

Resolved:-

1)    That the progress be noted and an update be received in six months’ time.