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Families First
Published: 10/12/2020
Flintshire County Council Cabinet Members will be asked to approve an extension of the Families First programme when they meet later this month.
This approval is subject to the Welsh Government approving further funding for a period of 6 months, with the option of a further 6 months if required.
The Families First programme in Flintshire has led the way in delivering key services to parents, young people and families with disabled children. The innovative delivery of the programme over the last three years, with its unique arrangement of being embedded in Flintshire’s multi-agency Early Help Hub has been a real success. This integrated approach has really come into its own during the Covid pandemic with over 200 young people, 368 parents and 501 families with children with disabilities receiving vital support.
Flintshire established a multiagency Families First Management Board (FFMB) to oversee local delivery of this Welsh Government funded programme and a plan was agreed with focus on:
- Early identification and engagement of families at more risk of escalating problems;
- More ‘whole-family’ approaches to work with young people and families with multiple needs; and
- Embedding inclusive practices across early support and prevention services for families with children with disabilities and for families preferring support in the Welsh language or language of choice.
It is important that these effective and trusted services have the capacity to continue their work and discussions are ongoing with Welsh Government with regard to future funding arrangements.
Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Youth, Councillor Ian Roberts, said:
“Our aims have always been to continue to develop and commission more integrated and streamlined prevention and support services from April 2021. In fact, work had started on this, but, having to focus on responding to the Covid crisis, it has been delayed. Without this extension, the great work currently being undertaken and the future plans would end on 31 March 2021. Our priority is to ensure that the families of Flintshire continue to receive the excellent support provided through our very successful Families First programme.”