FGM initiative and family support schemes receive innovation funding

The Local Government Association and Barnardo's scheme will aim to set up a national network of community outreach services to tackle FGM and change attitudes on the practice through better education.

A specialist team of social workers with experience of working with those at risk of FGM will be set up to offer psychological support for survivors and go into areas where women and girls are most vulnerable.

Lisa Brett, deputy chair of the LGA’s safer and stronger communities board, said: “This programme will drive a system change in children’s services and social work building the skills and confidence of professionals and creating positive change within communities to ensure the practice is no longer supported by community leaders or parents.
 
“Bringing together professionals across councils, health, education, police and the voluntary sector is a vital step in preventing, protecting and treating girls and women affected by FGM.
                                             
“Our ambition for the programme is for it to oversee the end of new cases of FGM by 2030.”

Barnardo’s chief executive, Javed Khan, added: “Our ambition in leading this pioneering programme with the LGA is to transform the way that FGM is tackled. We will work with leading experts and organisations already active in the field of FGM to help build a specialist, joined-up service that will identify those at risk.

“We will also draw together best practice and seek to develop new ways of working, engaging with communities to change attitudes and behaviour around FGM.”

Meanwhile, two projects aimed at supporting troubled families and young people have been handed a total of £8.2m of innovation programme money.

Leeds City Council will receive £4.8m to offer early intervention support to troubled families with complex needs.

This will involve social workers and other children and families professionals offering support such as family group conferences to prevent family conflict escalating. Also being assisted will be families affected by domestic violence.

In addition, £3.4m has been handed to an Action for Children scheme to support troubled children and young people in the London Boroughs of Barnet, Harrow and Hounslow.

Family therapy will be offered as will support for parents to manage behaviour more effectively. An estimated 450 young people and their families are set to benefit.

The three grants bring the number of projects to receive money through the £100m programme to 13, totalling funding of around £42m.

Other recent projects to receive funding through the programme include adopter mentoring scheme Cornerstone Initiative, which has been backed with £500,000.

Last month, Hertfordshire Council was awarded nearly £5m to train all children’s social workers in advanced psychological counselling techniques as part of a radical shake-up of child protection services.