On the 3 April 2018, the Council’s Executive agreed to implement the Family Hubs model for delivering prevention and early help to babies, children and young people from October 2018.

On the 9 June and 9 July 2019, the Council’s Executive also agreed a number of recommendations to implement changes across the 41 children centre sites.

The report of the Director, Children’s Services, (Document “K”) provides an update on implementation and Children’s Centre estates changes.

Members are asked to note the report, progress to date and provide support and guidance on the on-going production of the Family Hubs offer.

(Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Anne Chester-Wash – 01274 432904)

Resolved –

That the report, and the progress to date outlined in that report, be noted.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Children’s Services

ACTION: Strategic Director, Children’s Services

Members were reminded that on 3 April 2018, the Council’s Executive agreed to implement the Family Hubs model for delivering prevention and early help to babies, children and young people from October 2018.

On 9 June and 9 July 2019, the Council’s Executive also agreed a number of recommendations to implement changes across the 41 children centre sites.

The report of the Director, Children’s Services, (Document “K”) provided an update on implementation and Children’s Centre estates changes. 

Document K revealed that the Family Hubs model included Family Hubs Area Advisory Networks, Area Partnerships, four 0-19 area teams and a small group of central services. Hub areas cover South, East, West and Keighley/Shipley combined. Family Hubs provided:

·               Co-ordination and an information network across universal and targeted support in a cluster area;

·               Focused work which builds family relationships and improves children’s outcomes;

·               Support to reduce family poverty and support social mobility;

·               Co-location of key teams, particularly with the 0-19 children’s public health service which includes health visitors and school nursing.

The composition of the family hub teams was reported and the services provided were discussed and included:-

·               Specialist behaviour support and inclusion for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities;

·               Short breaks for disabled children and young people;

·               Intensive Family support/Family Group Conferences to prevent children and young people going into care.

In response to a request from Members a copy of the schedule of activity for the Keighley Family Hubs September to December 2019 was tabled.

It was stressed that the service took measures with the family and not for them and that the individual services provided was dependent on family need but included issues such as domestic violence; health and school attendance.

Parenting programmes in the Keighley/Shipley area were discussed including Wellness Recovery Action Plans; an obesity programme for children under the age of 5; Freedom – a programme run jointly with health visitors with links to domestic violence for perpetrators who wished to seek help and ‘Time out for Dads’ for transient male figures in a child’s life to make things better at home.

Details of the Stronger Families programme; Families First (Troubled Families) programme; Supporting Families against Youth Crime (FAYC) and the Trusted Relationships Programme were also reported and the numbers of families reached in the Keighley area was revealed.

Members were advised of an event being held in Victoria Hall, Keighley addressing good mental health for young people on 18 October 2019 to which they were all invited to attend.

Following a very detailed presentation a number of questions and issues arose to which the following responses were provided:-

·         Interventions in issues of domestic violence were only undertaken with the consent of families.  Domestic violence was identified through call outs to police.  Notifications were also sent to a dedicated safeguarding lead in all schools who would be advised that an incident had occurred but not the nature of the violence.

·         Following the closure of Tree Tops Children’s Centre discussions would be required  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30