In Focus: Outreach work for vulnerable families

In depth: The importance of outreach work

Outreach work is a crucial aspect of family support and early intervention, connecting families who often wouldn't otherwise get help.

Since 1998, outreach workers have been used to target families who are most in need through children's centres. They work alongside a wider support team to help families find the services they need.

Last year, 4Children analysed Ofsted reports from children's centres published between April and September 2010, and found encouraging words. Of the 38 reports available, 22 centres were "highly praised" for their outreach services, while 12 were "praised".

Although outreach work has been around for some time, some ambiguity remains over the definition of an outreach worker, the parameters and boundaries of the practitioner and the qualifications that are required. However, its importance has not gone unrecognised by the government. The Department for Education's (DfE) newly launched policy statement for the early years, Families in the Foundation Years, contains a clear commitment to outreach work as an integral part of family support. The document states its intention to identify an outreach system "leader" who will be tasked with developing the evidence base for outreach and family support, building on job roles to develop greater professional identity and considering whether there is a role for national standards for outreach. These responsibilities echo recommendations made in the 2009/10 Sure Start children's centre select committee report and will be crucial in continuing and developing outreach work in the future.