Welsh Assembly GovernmentDepartment for Children, Education,
Lifelong Learning and Skills
Families First
Huw MaguireHead of Family Support
029 2082 [email protected]
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
www.cymru.gov.uk
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
www.cymru.gov.uk
• 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
www.cymru.gov.uk
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
www.cymru.gov.uk
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
www.cymru.gov.uk
Questions…
• Develop systems/services address 3 strategic objectives?
• Not one-size, but what are key characteristics of successful ID & interventions?
www.cymru.gov.uk
Beyond the pioneers…
• Guidance supported by FF Funding
• Close working
• 2nd wave
• Sharing evidence & information; 2-way process
www.cymru.gov.uk
Challenge
• WAG/DM priority
• Increase in headline budget
• Delivery, monitoring: assess, challenge, support
• Opportunity
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