Decision details

Lancashire's Response to the National Troubled Families Programme

Decision Maker: Children's Services Scrutiny Committee

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: No

Decisions:

The Chair welcomed Debbie Duffell, Head of Children and Families, and, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director for Public Health and Wellbeing to the meeting.

 

The report presented outlined the details of progress achieved to date with the national programme and identified the challenges still to be addressed in the final two years of programme activity to enable vulnerable residents in Lancashire to fully benefit from the programme's requirements and for the council to achieve its projected financials linked to significant and sustained progress.

 

Members were informed that because the Children and Family Wellbeing Service was not a statutory service there were families who disengaged from the programme. However, it was highlighted that the key element was to make sure the children, young people and families were safe and the risk elements were considered, and assessment systems were in place to support this. 

 

In terms of the high number of vacancies in front line staffing, members were advised that this was particularly challenging in terms of the service's capacity to be able to respond at the early help level.  However the service was confident that these vacancies would be filled over the next few weeks. In addition, the service was working closely with colleagues in Children's Social Care to make sure the families that were being worked with had the right level of help at the right time.

 

Resolved: That;

 

  i.  The report be noted.

  ii.  A briefing note be provided to members on data systems and recruitment updates.

 

 

 

Report author: Ruth Gibson

Date of decision: 22/05/2018

Decided at meeting: 22/05/2018 - Children's Services Scrutiny Committee

Accompanying Documents: