Welsh Assembly GovernmentDepartment for Children, Education,

Lifelong Learning and Skills

Families First

Huw MaguireHead of Family Support

029 2082 6208huw.maguire@wales.gsi.gov.uk

www.cymru.gov.uk

Background

• Ambitious aim: WAG aspires to eradicate Child Povert by 2020

• 3 strategic objectives draft CPS:• Reduce number of workless households;• Improve skill levels in low income families;• Reduce inequalities in health, education and

economic outcomes for children living in poverty

• FF integral to range of policies to deliver on objectives

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What is Families First?

New way of working…

• focused,integrated services, address key issues in Child Poverty agenda

•Reduce inequalities in health, education and economic outcomes for children living in poverty

www.cymru.gov.uk• “Episodic” Cymorth ends March 2011

• 2011-12: transition year to Families First Funding

• Move towards FF principles: bespoke, integrated, pro-active, intensive, local, and Family Focused

Cymorth to Families First

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• Preventative – takes account of wider family needs in addressing individual needs through broad range of programmes/interventions

• Protective – detect/support families which, without intervention, may reach crisis

• Remedial – support families at/near crisis point – fully integrated support (IFST)

• FF: typically between preventative/protective

Approaches

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Pioneers

• 2 consortia

• Scoping: gaps, methods, proposals – family approaches

• Commissioning, communities, duplication, join-up, TAF, disability, C-F schools

• Innovation/extensionSharing – consortium & WalesAction learning & dissemination

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What do we know?

• Much good practice: workforce, systems, programmes

• Commonalities: Common assessment, multi-agencies, TAC/TAF

• One size does not always fit all…

• Evidence/evaluation framework: impact: families; long-term efficiencies

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Questions…

• Develop systems/services address 3 strategic objectives?

• Not one-size, but what are key characteristics of successful ID & interventions?

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Beyond the pioneers…

• Guidance supported by FF Funding

• Close working

• 2nd wave

• Sharing evidence & information; 2-way process

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Challenge

• WAG/DM priority

• Increase in headline budget

• Delivery, monitoring: assess, challenge, support

• Opportunity