1. Manchester’s Family Service Directory: A source of information about services for families and practitioners in Manchester.
I’m Carol Tarpey and I am leading on the development of the Family Service Directory to an Early Help Directory. This will be a key tool to support practitioners who are working with families and undertaking Early Help assessments.
Has anyone here heard of or used the Family Services Directory?
Here to introduce it to you and also ask for your help in improving the information held, for the benefit of families/individuals that you may support.
I only have 10 minutes so have got to be quick, but I will be around for the rest of the morning so please come and talk to me if you have any questions.
Carol Tarpey
Early Help – MCC
October 2014

2. What is the Family Service Directory? (FSD)
A popular directory of information and support for professionals and members of the public.
25,000 unique sessions per month and growing
Plans to upgrade and improve
Popular directory – Currently aimed at families with children up to the age of 19 (25 with disability), Has various categories, including Childcare, Family advice and support, Health and Money.
Hits and growing – Constantly promoting the directory, both internally and externally, and it is getting more and more popular.
Plans to upgrade – As well as the FSD, we also have MMS, a directory of adult services.
By April 2015 we will have migrated MMS over to the FSD platform. Meaning we have services for all in one place. We will also improve the look and feel of the directory.
Having your service featured is a good opportunity to be seen

3. How to access the Directory
Direct link:
Through the Manchester City Council website (
Direct link – manchester.gov.uk/fsdirectory
Through the MCC website – Integrated throughout the main City Council website.
Search engine – Such as Google, Bing, etc – Manchester FSD / Manchester Family Service Directory

4. Don’t have internet access to demo live, but have some screenshots to give you an idea – and would encourage you to have a look when you can.
At the moment, FSD Homepage looks like this – main categories, with sub-categories within them.
There is already lots of information about services which offer Early Help as well as links to websites offering advice for families. To make it easier for practitioners to identify services and interventions to support families, we are going to add a new main category targeted at practitioners undertaking Early Help assessments.

5. This is the Family Advice and Support category in the FSD.
Within this, there are a number of sub-categories which pull together information by themes such as domestic violence, bereavement and parenting support.
When an issue has been identified through a CAF, this would be one of the main categories practitioners could visit to look for information about services which could support the family.
When we develop the category for Early Help Practitioners, we will create sub-categories which link to recurring themes identified within MCAFs. Over the next few months, we will be analysing registered MCAFs so that the categories reflect the presenting needs of families.

6. Looking at the sub-category of Domestic Violence and abuse, you will find information about a number of organisations which can help those who have suffered domestic abuse.
Information about voluntary sector organisations such as Manchester Women’s Aid and MARAC are there.
Narrow results search filters – Ward / area / other sub category
Look at results of searches on a Map
Shortlist relevant records – or print them.

7. Here, for example, is the record about MARAC which is aimed at practitioners.
We maximise links to the organisation’s own website so that there is less risk of information held on the FSD being out of date.
Attach a logo, pictures, referral form, etc.
Map – buttons to view on a map or get directions by adding your postcode.

8. Are you on the FSD? Nothing worse than an out of date directory!
Please check if your service is listed by performing a keyword search
Not listed? – register and create a record
Listed? – register and take ownership
Guidance provided…
We understand if people use a directory and find out of date information it is off-putting and doesn’t give much trust in the service. We need you to register, to help growing it and keeping it as relevant as possible. You’re the experts.
Quality assurance of records held on the FSD is key. We will be making it a requirement for local services to register an account on the FSD before they can be included in the Early Help for Practitioners category. We are working closely with colleagues in Commissioning to include this requirement within the terms and conditions of any contracts.
Keyword search – Name of your service. Whether you’re listed or not: Step-by-step guidance through the homepage

9. Further information/support:
Notice something out of date/incorrect?
Or need technical support?
General enquiry:
Carol Tarpey
Paul Furley
If when exploring the FSD, you see something that you know is out of date, please let me know. We rely on feedback.