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| Funding for troubled families is vital. Councils won't cope if it's withdrawn | Funding for troubled families is vital. Councils won't cope if it's withdrawn |
| (2 days later) | |
| My council receives £800,000 a year and funds the work of 30 people. We need to know what the future holds | My council receives £800,000 a year and funds the work of 30 people. We need to know what the future holds |
| Michael Bracey | Michael Bracey |
| Wed 14 Feb 2018 10.00 GMT | Wed 14 Feb 2018 10.00 GMT |
| Last modified on Fri 16 Feb 2018 09.07 GMT | |
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| Paying for a pair of walking boots so a young person can go on a school trip, and dealing with a bed bug infestation that led to a child refusing to take part in a PE class because she was ashamed of the bites. This is some of the work my council does with funding from the Troubled Families programme. | Paying for a pair of walking boots so a young person can go on a school trip, and dealing with a bed bug infestation that led to a child refusing to take part in a PE class because she was ashamed of the bites. This is some of the work my council does with funding from the Troubled Families programme. |
| We receive more than £800,000 a year through the scheme. Among other things, it’s funding the majority of a sizeable casework team of around 30 people, who work with hundreds of families at any one time. | We receive more than £800,000 a year through the scheme. Among other things, it’s funding the majority of a sizeable casework team of around 30 people, who work with hundreds of families at any one time. |
| The funding also pays for a range of much-needed domestic abuse intervention projects, including the Freedom Programme and Escape the Trap. These programmes are getting real results, reducing the demand on our child protection teams. Of the 60 or so participants who completed our most recent Freedom Programme in December, just four re-referrals have been received so far. | The funding also pays for a range of much-needed domestic abuse intervention projects, including the Freedom Programme and Escape the Trap. These programmes are getting real results, reducing the demand on our child protection teams. Of the 60 or so participants who completed our most recent Freedom Programme in December, just four re-referrals have been received so far. |
| The Troubled Families programme was launched in 2012, and headed by Dame Louise Casey. Following the riots of the previous year, the programme formed a key part of the coalition government’s plans to tackle poor parenting, school non-attendance, unemployment, drug use and antisocial behaviour. | The Troubled Families programme was launched in 2012, and headed by Dame Louise Casey. Following the riots of the previous year, the programme formed a key part of the coalition government’s plans to tackle poor parenting, school non-attendance, unemployment, drug use and antisocial behaviour. |
| Almost £450m of new money was pushed out to local councils, many building on work they’d done in response to another initiative, also led by Casey, to set up a network of 50 family intervention projects. This time, though, the plan was more ambitious: Troubled Families was a nationwide programme with the aim of turning around the lives of 120,000 families. | Almost £450m of new money was pushed out to local councils, many building on work they’d done in response to another initiative, also led by Casey, to set up a network of 50 family intervention projects. This time, though, the plan was more ambitious: Troubled Families was a nationwide programme with the aim of turning around the lives of 120,000 families. |
| Before long, the government’s claims that nearly all the families involved in the programme had made real, sustained progress were challenged. An independent evaluation found that after four years, there was no clear evidence that the programme had any serious effect. But the government pressed on regardless, asserting that immediate improvements could not be expected [pdf], and claiming that it would save money for the taxpayer in the long run. | Before long, the government’s claims that nearly all the families involved in the programme had made real, sustained progress were challenged. An independent evaluation found that after four years, there was no clear evidence that the programme had any serious effect. But the government pressed on regardless, asserting that immediate improvements could not be expected [pdf], and claiming that it would save money for the taxpayer in the long run. |
| The scope was expanded to include 400,000 more families and another tranche of funding was made available up to 2020. In total, almost £1bn will have been channelled to local areas though the programme’s system of transformation grants, attachment fees and reward payments. | The scope was expanded to include 400,000 more families and another tranche of funding was made available up to 2020. In total, almost £1bn will have been channelled to local areas though the programme’s system of transformation grants, attachment fees and reward payments. |
| While the impact of the first phase of the programme might have been overstated, the importance of the funding to cash-strapped local councils cannot be. Over the last few years, many councils have been relying on the money to support a range of children’s services. | While the impact of the first phase of the programme might have been overstated, the importance of the funding to cash-strapped local councils cannot be. Over the last few years, many councils have been relying on the money to support a range of children’s services. |
| The programmes also get great feedback from those making referrals: 71% report significant improvements in family situations. One woman told us: “Before doing this, I was so confused and took all the responsibility for what happened. I now know I am not the person my abuser made me think I was.” | The programmes also get great feedback from those making referrals: 71% report significant improvements in family situations. One woman told us: “Before doing this, I was so confused and took all the responsibility for what happened. I now know I am not the person my abuser made me think I was.” |
| Other councils are also using the funding in creative ways. In West Berkshire a novel partnership with Job Centre Plus is delivering strong employment outcomes, and in Brighton and Hove an innovative family coaching programme is being made possible thanks to Troubled Families funding . | Other councils are also using the funding in creative ways. In West Berkshire a novel partnership with Job Centre Plus is delivering strong employment outcomes, and in Brighton and Hove an innovative family coaching programme is being made possible thanks to Troubled Families funding . |
| The Troubled Families programme will come to an end in two years and councils will soon have to make some difficult decisions around the continuation of services if further funding is not made available. There has not yet been an announcement on the future of the programme, but few would expect it to continue in its current form given the way government initiatives tend to come and go over time. | The Troubled Families programme will come to an end in two years and councils will soon have to make some difficult decisions around the continuation of services if further funding is not made available. There has not yet been an announcement on the future of the programme, but few would expect it to continue in its current form given the way government initiatives tend to come and go over time. |
| Despite the criticisms of the programme, it’s working for us and many other councils across the country. I’ve seen the impact it is having and talked to families who are undeniably being helped by the work it’s funding. We urgently need to know what will come next. | Despite the criticisms of the programme, it’s working for us and many other councils across the country. I’ve seen the impact it is having and talked to families who are undeniably being helped by the work it’s funding. We urgently need to know what will come next. |
| Michael Bracey is director of children’s and adult services at Milton Keynes council. | Michael Bracey is director of children’s and adult services at Milton Keynes council. |
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