Update on Family Support Martin Swain Deputy Director Children, Young People and Families Directorate for Social Services and Children Welsh Government

Programme for Government Key focus on supporting children, young people and families – commitments include Supporting the roll out and implementation of Families First Expanding Flying Start by doubling the number of children to 36,000 Continuing the roll out of Intergrated Family Support Teams

Key changes for Family Support Our review of support highlights effective approaches include: Whole Family Approach Strengths Based model Skilled and trained staff – e.g. collaboration Co-ordinated multi agency working Early and appropriate intervention Preparatory outreach work Responsive programmes

Families First Update Key Elements 1.Joint Assessment Family Framework (JAFF); 2.Team Around the Family model (TAF); 3.A coherent set of strategically commissioned, time limited, family-focused services or projects; 4.An inter-authority Families First learning set; 5.Proposals to improve support for families with disabled children and young people.

Families With No Additional Needs Families with Complex Needs This is where IFSS and statutory and specialist services will focus resources. Families First will focus on the preventative and protective sections of the continuum of support. Families With Additional Needs The Continuum of Support

Delivery – where are we now Pioneer areas up and running since local authorities involved in pioneer phase – whole of North Wales Learning sets across Wales developing best practice and feeding back into programme development Full roll out across Wales from 1 April 2012

Flying Start – where we are now Pilot phase complete – delivering to 18, year olds and their families 4 core components offered universally to Flying Start families Two evaluations tell us this programme is making a difference

Flying Start – what do we know Higher levels of service access Higher needs groups get the help they need Proactive health visiting with greater referrals Enhanced parenting support through parenting programmes – improvements for families Better home learning School readiness

Flying Start – what next Top five Welsh Government priority Double the number of children and their families that benefit to 36,000 by the end of this term £55 million additional funding available over the next three years – total funding in excess of £70 million per annum by year three of expansion Change of focus on targeting

Integrated Family Support Teams Strengthen support to the most vulnerable families Set out in legislation – Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 Sets out arrangements for greater collaboration across agencies Breaks down barriers between agencies Operating in pilot areas – RCT/Merthyr, Newport and Wrexham Expanding to SW Wales and Powys – also Cardiff and Vale Information sheet available –