Wolverhampton Council continuing work for development of new ways of working in children's social care

The council has been a key part of the Department for Education's Families First for Children Pathfinder (FFCP) programme over the last 18 months, designed to test ways to reform the children’s social care system, help children to stay with their families in safe and loving homes while protecting vulnerable children where needed and ensuring that families will receive the right support at the right time and be supported by the right professional.

Wolverhampton Council was one of three local authorities chosen to take part in the first phase of the Pathfinder and has worked to deliver family help through multi-disciplinary teams, child protection through social workers and greater use of family networks.

Other key objectives of the work being undertaken include ensuring that families are helped at the earliest opportunity so that they can remain together safely so that an escalation of need is prevented and reducing the need for statutory child protection involvement. Where this cannot happen, there will be increased kinship care arrangements to keep children with close family or friends.

Seven more councils joined the Pathfinder in the second phase last year, and funding for the programme has now been extended for a further 12 months.

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "One of our top priorities as a council is to ensure our children and young people get the best possible start in life and so we are very pleased to be a part of this important piece of work.

"The FFCP programme aims to help children and families facing challenges by giving them the right help at the right time, by ensuring early support, family help and intervention is available to help them overcome adversity and stay together where possible.

"We are sharing our learning through regular meetings with the Department for Education and policy leads from cross government departments, as well as presenting at national public learning events and conferences.

"The Government's new Children Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which began its journey through Parliament in December, shows a clear commitment to rolling out social care reform nationally, and findings from the Pathfinder will be used to help shape these reforms.

"This means that, thanks to our involvement with the Pathfinder, we - and the children and families we support - will be able to directly influence the national rollout of reforms to children's social care."

Last Autumn, Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby, visited Graiseley Family Hub, one of nine family hubs across the city, to meet staff, children and families and see first-hand how the council had successful embedded the Pathfinder.

Alison Hinds, the council's director of Children's Services, said: "The visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the collaboration between ourselves and the wider partnership, as well as demonstrating how well we’ve managed to achieve frontline support for families.

“Families tell their story once and we work restoratively with families to discuss what support they need and work with them to create a family plan, while families own their plan. 

"Family help support is integrated in our Family Hubs across the city, providing a holistic offer of support in a non-stigmatising environment which helps to build solid relationships.”