New funding means more help for children

SEFTON Council is introducing new methods to support families of vulnerable children following a successful bid for Government funding.

Sefton is one of 15 local authorities to be awarded a share of £84m of new Department for Education (DfE) innovation funding, which will help reduce the number of children entering care by improving family stability.

Adopting the Family Valued model used successfully by Leeds Council, Sefton and its partners will work with families to encourage long term changes to keep children safe.

Families will receive “person centred” care and support at every step as strong relationships are fostered between workers and families.

These close relationships will mean that issues such as addiction, domestic violence and mental health can be tackled as they arise, creating a more stable environment for children.

Cllr John Joseph Kelly, cabinet member for children, schools and safeguarding, said: “The funding from the DfE will be a catalyst for our family centred approach to supporting children at risk – adopting the Family Valued model represents an opportunity to make a lasting difference to those children by supporting their family units.”

To find out about the Government’s Strengthening Families, Protecting Children scheme and its projects around the UK at the website gov.uk/ government/ publications/ strengthening-familiesprotecting-childrenprogramme