The Family and Parenting Institute has responded to the announcement of a new Troubled Families Team operating at the heart of government.
Dr Katherine Rake, the Family and Parenting Institute's CEO said: “We warmly welcome the Government’s move to put families at the centre of its policies.
“The government’s own analysis shows it’s not uncommon for up to 20 local agencies to overlap when intervening with troubled families – health services, schools, children’s centres, police, social services and others besides. This has been shown to be expensive and ineffective. The new Troubled Families Team must focus on establishing a co-ordinated approach to intervention."
She added: “We should not pre-judge the complex nature of the issues facing these families. The response needs professional, skilled intervention over a substantial period of time. Another serious challenge is how to offer the intensive support necessary at the scale being discussed. New approaches and partnerships will be required if the target of reaching 120,000 families is to be achieved in a meaningful way.
The Family and Parenting Institute stages Parents’ Week 2011 next week (October 17 to 23). A panel of experts will be writing on the subject ‘where next for UK parenting,’ addressing post-riots issues, on www.familyandparenting.org
A Family and Parenting Institute briefing, Families with Multiple Problems, can be viewed here.
