Support is paying off
A transformational approach to supporting families and young people is gaining momentum across South Lanarkshire.
Members of South Lanarkshire’s Integration Joint Board (IJB) recently heard about early success and details of next steps for the South Lanarkshire Family Support Strategy at its recent meeting.
The combination of health and social care and third sector teams collaborating at community level, married with thorough planning and investment, has seen the successful launch of a number of initiatives.
The strategy’s early rollout has ranged from family support hubs to peer support for parents. The aim is to reduce perceived stigma of families seeking help and preventing challenging situations deteriorating to the point where children may need to enter care, or other formal measures or support are required.
Soumen Sengupta, chief officer of South Lanarkshire’s IJB, said: “We know, and can see, the impact that effective early intervention and prevention can and does have on the lives of children, young people and families.
“Early progress with this approach demonstrates the wealth of work that goes on at a local level, the active engagement and collaboration between our children’s social work teams, our health care children’s team and the third sector.”
The approach is supported by the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, which comprises resourcing from the Scottish Government matched by funding from the Corra Foundation, South Lanarkshire IJB and South Lanarkshire Council.
Mr Sengupta said the overall approach underlines the IJB’s commitment to protect the most vulnerable members of South Lanarkshire communities amid challenging financial times. He added: “Significant cost pressures are being faced across all local public services and I fully recognise the scale and implications of these challenges will be concerning for our communities.”
Lesley McDonald, chair of South Lanarkshire IJB, said: “The IJB has only been in a position to make this investment in early intervention and prevention due to a prudent and responsible financial decision-making coupled to the unremitting commitment of our innovative, hardworking staff and leadership team to keep people safe across the generations. The continued implementation of this new strategy will further reinforce the innovation and strong partnerships between organisations that are crucial to success.”