Families to benefit from £2m support plan

Families in Rotherham are set to benefit from a new £2m plan aimed at improving support for children and parents before problems reach crisis point.

At a meeting on Monday, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's cabinet approved the next phase of its Family Help Strategy, which is part of a national push to offer earlier, more joined-up help to struggling families.

The money will be used to bring services like social care, education, health and the police closer together, to try and stop families from falling through the cracks.

Work on the transformation will begin immediately, with updates expected in the autumn, the council said.

The changes aim to make it easier for families to get the right help at the right time, whether that is support with parenting, mental health, school attendance or other challenges, the Local Democracy Service reports.

The plan includes the creation of multi-agency teams made up of social workers, education staff, health professionals and others who will work together to offer tailored, practical support before problems escalate.

Families will also be more involved in shaping their own support, with a stronger role for extended family networks and a focus on building resilience at home.

During the meeting, Victoria Cusworth, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The funding is targeted at service transformation activity [and] increasing direct delivery of family help.

"This is about enabling families to access the right help at the right time, and from the right people, reducing the need for statutory intervention and giving children the best possible start in life."

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