Family Hubs are places where families can go to access integrated help and support as their children grow up. They have the potential to transform outcomes for children through an integrated early help model, which brings together children’s services, healthcare professionals and the third sector.
The Government is committed to supporting the roll out of Family Hubs to more areas, and it forms one of its 2019 Manifesto pledges. Family Hubs are one of six national practice solutions identified by the Department for Education (DfE) to support recovery from COVID-19.
What is a Family Hub?
Family Hubs come in a variety of forms, and is it important that they are designed to fit to requirements of each local area and partners. Common principles underpinning the model include:
An understanding of the importance of Early Help and prevention
A whole-family approach, focusing on disadvantaged and vulnerable children
Support for children aged 0-19 (and up to 25 for SEND), but with particular focus on early years to give infants the best start in life and ensure they are school-ready
Integrated services, including health visiting, maternity, and children's services
A central access point connected to all other delivery sites in the area
Involvement from the third sector and wider community
Our support for Family Hubs
Mutual Ventures can support local authorities to explore, design and implement Family Hubs in your area. We will work with you to develop a model that responds to your unique circumstances, bringing along colleagues in primary care and the third sector, and creating a roadmap for preparing services.
Download a one-page leaflet outlining MV’s offer.
For more information on Family Hubs, including examples of best practice from Essex, Doncaster and the Isle of Wight, you can view our webinar held in partnership with the Family Hubs Network.
To discuss ideas and to learn how we can help you contact John Copps john@mutualventures.co.uk