Providing national support for family hubs.
Back in July, the Government announced the ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ strategy, which included £500 million for the Best Start Family Hubs programme.
This funding will result in the hubs being expanded to every council area in England (see first 707).
Billed as ‘one-stop shops’ for babies, under-fives and their families, the hubs bring together a range of early years support, including for breastfeeding, early language development, special educational needs, and parenting skills.
They form a key plank of the Government’s strategy, which aims to ensure 75 per cent of five-year-olds in England have a good level of development by 2028.
Councils already work hard to improve outcomes for children by running local children’s or family centres, joining up support services, and overseeing childcare and pre-school education provision – see right for a case study from Wiltshire.
Meanwhile, the LGA recently won the contract to run the National Centre for Family Hubs, which supports local authorities and partners to deliver family hubs and the ‘Best start in life’ strategy.
We will be working with all councils across England, both previously funded and unfunded, to support the implementation of the expanded programme, running national and regional events, and having nine regional advisers supporting councils directly.
See National Centre Family Hubs on the LGA website to find out more, or email NationalCentreFamilyHubs@local.gov.uk
Case study: Wiltshire family hubs
Councillor Jon Hubbard (Ind) is Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills at Wiltshire Council
The national launch of the Family Hub model, as part of the Government’s ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ strategy, emphasises the principles of accessibility, connection and relationships, and was timely because it aligns with Wiltshire’s vision for early help.
Work was already under way in Wiltshire to build on these principles as part of our Families and Children Transformation (FACT) programme.
It was therefore a natural step for us to fund the family hub model to improve the available offer for families, despite budget constraints. Thanks to creativity and a committed provider, a quality service is now being delivered.
Parenting support was identified as a key component of our service, underpinned by research showing that parenting interventions for children from birth to age three are effective in improving early childhood development outcomes.
Therefore, the contract includes evidence-based parenting programmes for all ages of children, children with additional needs, and for parental conflict. These programmes have proved to be very popular and are offered both in-person and online, so that parents are fully supported and can choose the approach that best suits them.
Another important element is the family hub ‘navigator’ – someone who provides a first point of contact for families and connects them with relevant services.
This role is instrumental in meeting with families in accessible community venues and offering very early help, aiming to prevent families from needing later or statutory support.
Three main hubs operate from council buildings, so services can be easily accessed under one roof. There is additional delivery in libraries, leisure centres and other community venues to ensure inclusivity and to reduce stigma, and to ensure they are easily accessible for families across our large rural county.
The model is working well and has uncovered demand for family support for children of all ages and with varying needs. The service is under pressure as Wiltshire tries to support more families.
The national direction and funding for the Best Start Family Hub model is therefore warmly welcomed and will help Wiltshire to better serve families.