The ADCS Safeguarding Pressures report confirms the magnitude of the challenge local areas face. Increased referrals to children’s social care, child protection and early help assessments; combined with stretched public finances, have left non-statutory services supporting children and families through a cost-of-living crisis with limited resources or time for creativity in service design.
Whilst the government’s spending review has made positive investment in this space - particularly through Family Hubs/Start For Life and Supporting Families programmes - the key challenge before us is how we best use the additional funds to ensure that local areas have a cohesive and functioning family support system that works for all parents.
I was fortunate to have discussed this challenge alongside some excellent colleagues from both national and local Government at the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC), held in Bournemouth earlier this month. The session entitled “Family Hubs: joining the dots” was hosted by myself and Triple P UK and chaired by Marc Rooney, Deputy Director Family Hubs at the Department for Education. Based on a white paper developed with the support of a number of local authorities published late last year, the event saw a lively debate exploring the opportunities afforded by Family Hubs to go further in joining up services and bringing support for parenting together.
The ideas within the white paper explore how multiple service areas can be joined up through a core parenting team, and encourages local authorities to think creatively about their service design. As the following diagram suggests, considering parenting support as a golden thread in local delivery, the areas that can be supported are extensive.
At the standing-room-only event Jane Moore, director of children and family services for Leicestershire County Council, argued for the importance of making family hubs ‘one-stop shops’ and the need to ensure delivery of ‘evidence-based parenting programmes’ as a golden thread through Family Hub models. One of the ideas discussed was the importance of evidenced-based digital parenting support. This echoes Helen Lincoln's - executive director of children, families and education at Essex Council Council and Chair of the ADCS Policy Committee - calls for a national digital early help service.
These calls follow the success of the Australian Government’s nationwide roll-out of online parenting programmes last year and build on considerable international recognition that evidence-based parenting support can reduce the number of children and families in need of more intensive services.
To make early help effective in the UK, it is essential that the government, local organisations, and wider partners work together to identify those who would benefit and ensure they can access it. Sarah Martin, service manager at Sheffield City Council, stated at the NCASC conference how through offering evening parenting support classes online they have seen a dramatic surge in uptake and retention amongst those in need of support.
Triple P’s own research has shown that most parents feel parenting is the most important job they will ever do, and yet 75 per cent feel there is stigma attached to asking for help. The case for more support is clear - and knowing where to find it is half of the battle.
At Triple P, we believe evidence-based parenting programmes offer a golden thread for service design and delivery. With parenting programmes already being used as core components for a range of services including; Early Help, SEND services, Mental Health Support Teams, Youth Offending Services, and the Home Learning Environment, it seems logical to further integrate family support.
Moreover, against the backdrop of increased economic pressures, the government must recognise the positive impact parenting programmes can have and fund them adequately. By viewing parenting support as the golden thread, the government can not only create a successful blueprint for the full integration of service support, but they can ensure their new funding for family support services is effectively used and is evidence-based.
Matt Buttery is chief executive of Triple P UK and Ireland and honorary associate professor in family and parenting practice and policy at the University of Warwick.
