The Group Manager Integrated Working and Family Support submitted a report to Cabinet Committee on the progress of the implementation of the Early Intervention and Prevention Strategy.  He advised members that there was a significant re-structure of Early Intervention and Family Support Services that encompassed a wide range of services that had previously existed under separate management arrangements, with separate referral systems.  This had resulted in a move from an individual service based model (Youth Service, Educational Welfare) to a locality/hub based model. 

The Group Manager Integrated Working and Family Support explained that BCBC now has three locality Early Help Hubs (North, West and East of the County Borough) made up of a range of roles that included

·         Family Support Workers

·         Education Welfare Officers

·         Family Engagement Officers

·         Lead Workers

·         Counsellors

·         Young Carers Co-ordinator

The Group Manager Integrated Working and Family Support added that the restructure of all of the services Early Intervention and Family Support generated a budget saving of £730k as part of the 2015/16 MTFS, the financial savings were predominately generated from streamlining management and back office functions.  He advised members that the re-structured services had been operational since April 2015. However, some of the new processes, that included a simplified referral arrangement (one front door) and the re-direction of inappropriate contacts from the Safeguarding Assessment Team commenced in June 2015.  He added that another positive outcome linked with the re-structure was the number of Safeguarding

Cases that had been ‘stepped down’ into Early Help Services. 

The Group Manager Integrated Working and Family Support advised Cabinet Committee that work was underway to bring together the Authority’s Early Intervention and Prevention and Looked After Children Placement and Permanency Strategies with a joint action plan, in order to ensure service priorities were agreed and that accountability was attributed correctly.

The Cabinet Member Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing asked if there had been any indication from WG regarding further grant funding beyond 2016.

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation stated that this had been a concern but there had been direction from politicians that the support would continue for at least a further year.  She added WG were looking to combine two grants; Families First and Flying Start.

The Deputy Leader stated that no Authority would want to give up control over their funding as this does not give them flexibility and creates more conditions.  He added that all parties recognised the full value of the grant schemes and the successful delivery of results. 

A Member asked if there was a risk of duplication with the various schemes including Integrated Family Support and Joint Assessment Family Framework.  The Group Manager Integrated Family Support advised that by co-locating the services and having a single point of contact for the service this had allowed better co-ordination of the schemes and avoided the duplication of service. 

RESOLVED:               That Cabinet Committee noted the report.