Stoke-on-Trent is putting families first with new family help programme

Families in Stoke-on-Trent will soon find it easier to get the support they need through a new family help programme.

The new programme - the local delivery of the government’s Families First Partnership – is designed to make support simpler, earlier and more effective.

It is designed to make support easier to access and navigate by placing one trusted practitioner at the centre of each family’s journey.

A Family Help Lead Practitioner will work with every family who needs this level of support. Families will no longer need to repeat their story to multiple teams.

The single point of contact will make it easier for families to:

• Understand what help is available
• Get the right support at the right time
• Build confidence to manage challenges

Family Help Lead Practitioners will bring together support from education, health, early help, housing and wider services to help children grow up safe, well and thriving, whatever their family’s situation.

The programme focuses on early help so issues can be addressed before they grow into crisis. Support may include help for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), guidance for families from different cultural backgrounds, support for families where a parent is in custody and practical day-to-day assistance.

The role focuses on early support to work with families to solve problems early and provide help before situations reach crisis point.

In Stoke-on-Trent, the new programme will build on the success of the existing Family Matters programme. The two offers are distinct but closely linked, creating a seamless pathway of support across the city.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “In Stoke-on-Trent we want families to get the right support at the right time, without the stress of repeating their story to different services. A single point of contact will make that possible.

“One trusted practitioner will build a relationship with each family, coordinate help and make support clearer and more joined up.

“This builds on what already works in our city and gives families one contact, one shared plan and one clearer route into support.

“This is about evolution, not revolution. By stepping in earlier, we can make support less stressful and more effective – helping families through challenges before they become crises.”

Claire Bailey, Managing Director of the Children and Families Care Group at the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Families First Partnership Programme puts health and support at the heart of family life – strengthening wellbeing by supporting families early, working together across services, including MPFT’s Integrated 0-19 Health Visiting & School Nursing Service and building the foundations for healthier, more resilient communities.

“When families are supported to thrive, health outcomes improve for everyone.”

Detective Chief Superintendent, Sally Blaiklock, Head of Public Protection, Staffordshire Police, said: “Families First is a significant step forward in how we support and protect children, young people and families.

“By bringing agencies together through one coordinated approach, we can identify vulnerability earlier, reduce harm and ensure families receive the right support before problems escalate into crisis.

“Building on the strong partnerships already established across Stoke-on-Trent, this programme will strengthen safeguarding, support victims and help deliver better outcomes for those who need us most.”

Vanessa Whatley, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Boards, said:

"We welcome the introduction of the Families First Partnership Programme in Stoke-on-Trent, which reflects our shared commitment to providing earlier, more joined-up support for children, young people and their families. By bringing services together around a single trusted practitioner, families will find it easier to access the right help at the right time.

Partnership working is central to improving outcomes for children and families, and this programme strengthens collaboration across services, ensuring families receive co-ordinated support that is accessible and focused on helping children and young people thrive."

The delivery of Families First is being shaped using feedback from local children and families, ensuring it reflects real experiences in the city.

Families can find support, tips and information, and share their views, at https://families.stoke.gov.uk/familyfirst