Cameron outlines plan to rescue troubled families

The trials will be led by new "family champion" Emma Harrison, who is the chairman of welfare to work provider, A4E.

They will be modelled on the Labour administration’s family intervention projects and will provide up to 500 families with one-to-one support from a single named professional.

These professionals will be charged with helping families overcome everything from drug and alcohol addiction and long-term unemployment to problems with their children’s behaviour.

The six to 10 local authority pilot areas, which are yet to be announced, will receive extra cash to conduct the trials through the new early intervention grant.

Cameron claimed that Harrison understands how to help families improve their lives "step-by-step, month-by-month".

"She refuses to believe some people are lost causes and has a proven track record of turning lives around," he said. "Her approach is the complete opposite of the impersonal, one-size-fits-all approach that has failed so many families – which is why I have asked her to come on board to help us."

Harrison added that she plans to help turn 500 "never worked" families into families that are "working, paying their own ways and living great lives".

"This scheme will allow all families, even those with the toughest circumstances, to gain a clear purpose through employment," she claimed.

"I have more than twenty years experience helping the long-term unemployed get back into the workplace and all the evidence shows that by providing focused, one-to-one support we will start to help troubled families."

But Rhian Beynon, head of policy and campaigns at charity Family Action argued that government policies are harming, not helping families.

"We are glad the government is stressing family relationships and support for families," she explained. "However, the fact is government welfare policies are working against strong families. Welfare caps will hurt large families, housing benefit cuts will damage family stability and slashing working tax credits and childcare support for families in work will push families into poverty."

Meanwhile, children’s minister Sarah Teather has announced plans to invest £30m in funding relationship support over the next four years. This will be used to offer support to couples in "relationship distress" through children’s centres.

The government has also asked Kim Bromley-Derry, past president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and chief executive of Newham Council, to chair a national group of professional bodies and voluntary organisations to advise on the development of the new approach to families with multiple problems.

A Department for Education statement emphasised the fact that Harrison’s involvement in the trials is "on a purely personal basis". "No payment or benefit of any type will accrue to her or to any organisations she is involved with," it said.