Priority Families Programme – Where we have got to so far….

1. Priority Families Programme – Where we have got to so far…. Nick Gower Johnson October 2013 priorityfamilies@warwickshire.gcsx.gov.uk 01926 742642 www.warwickshire.gov.uk/priorityfamilies

2. Troubled (Priority) Families – Tough Work for all of us…….. Do you remember this Quote from 2012 ???? ‘This is a job that is not for the faint-hearted.. You will be at the forefront of this push to bring about real change in families’ lives …. The aim of the Programme is to change the lives of families who have many problems and indeed cause many problems in their local area… they also cost cash-strapped services a lot of money just to contain them in a mess, rather than getting to the root causes of what’s going wrong for them as a family’ Louise Casey Director General of the Troubled Families Unit

3. What Does Success Look Like ……….? • Reduction in Crime and Anti Social Behaviour • Children Back in School • Parents back in work or more ‘work – ready’ • Big cuts in costs to the state

4. The Five Family Intervention Factors • Dedicated Workers – Dedicated to Families • Practical Hands on Support • A persistent, assertive and challenging approach • Considering the family as a whole • A common purpose and agreed action

5. Priority Families – The Main Programme • Priority Families is a Programme and NOT a service. Main source of funding is via DCLG Troubled Families Programme • DWP Programme ……………………? • Over three years 1.4.12 – 31.3.2015 BUT will be extended for a further 12 months to 2016 and maybe beyond…. • delivered through and by local authorities with additional resources from Government and Payment by Results rewards with a focus on ‘turning round the lives’ of 120,000 families nationally / 805 families in Warwickshire. • Key Worker to ‘Grip the Family’ and provide both assertive challenge and support using the 5 intervention factors

6. Priority Families - The Warwickshire Numbers • 805 families to be worked with over three years - up to April 2015. • Of these assumed that one sixth (134 families) will be worked with via the DWP Programme or otherwise • Leaves 671 families to be identified and worked with via the DCLG Programme. Commitment to ‘start work with’ 250 families in year 1 (by 31 3 2013) – and then 335 in Year 2, and 86 in Year 3 • Families are identified through 3 national criteria or 2 national criteria and 1 from a list of local criteria • ‘Family’ = Undefined and for local interpretation = ‘Household’

7. DCLG Programme - National Criteria

8. Half Way Through the Programme – what have WE achieved so far………………………….? • Identified the Families and working with / have worked with at least half of them (current figure is 413 families) • Programme is in a sound financial position (All attachment fees paid and Payment by Results coming on stream) • Added to the capacity of existing services • Set up governance, partnership and networking arrangements – countywide & local • Agreeing evaluation criteria and looking at sustaining the Programme beyond 2015 / 2016 • Got a great team together and sustained and improved partnerships internal & external

9. Identifying & Working With the Families – the story so far……….. • Through gradual cross match with local criteria & referrals to the Programme we have now identified at least 928 families (15% MORE than the required number of families) that fit 2 national criteria + at least 1 local criterion and should therefore attach to the Programme • Of these families we have or are currently working with /have worked with at least 413 families (51% of the target number) • So far we have made a successful claim for Payment by Results funding in respect of 46 families and hope to add a further 100 to this during this month….. Please collectively cross your fingers!!

10. Where do our Priority Families Live…….? The story so far.. Of the 928 families: North Warwickshire 48 5% Nuneaton & Bedworth 466 50% Rugby 169 18% Warwick 138 15% Stratford Upon Avon 77 8% Out of County / Unknown 30 3%

11. Resourcing the Work (1) • Priority Families is NOT ‘yet another service’ – it is about better supporting / enhancing /coordinating what we already have that we know works well. • Ensuring that there is greater capacity ‘within the system’ - especially Key Worker Support via Family Intervention Project (9 extra workers) Family Support Work via Family Support and Parenting (8 extra workers) and support for the CAF process, ACE Team (School Attendance) and Youth Justice / Family Intervention • Ensuring that there are adequate management support and supervision arrangements in place for front-line staff (this is highly demanding and taxing work – especially at the ‘hard-end’) • Identifying and helping to resource the range of interventions likely to be required over and above those that are currently readily available to families.

12. Resourcing the Work (2)

13. Key Work over the next few months • Taking forward the Local Coordinating Groups (LCG) One per District / Area) • Camp Hill LCG (agreed yesterday that this will be fulfilled by PinCH / Camp Hill Partnership) and moves towards more local management arrangements elsewhere too… • Attaching Families to the Programme and ‘Getting on with it’ – Key target of working with / have worked with 470 families by 1 1 14 • Continuing to support the Family Support Workers & the DWP seconded worker • Establishing our Case Management System, Evaluation arrangements and enhancing data / intelligence collection • Closer links with schools, parts of Health and other key partners • Getting towards our financial target for Payment by Results funding & securing the finances for the Programme beyond 2015

14. In Conclusion ………. In spite of all these words, none of us should forget why we are doing what we are doing……………..