Early Help Family Hubs Strategy
- Period: 29 May 2018 - 12 July 2018
- Status: Closed
- Audiences: Everyone
- Topics: Children's services
- Type: Public
Introduction
Earlier this year we consulted with parents, stakeholders and staff to hear their views on proposals to restructure Early Help services and the concept of family hubs. Family hubs are venues for delivering services to children and young people aged 0-25 with a focus on working with the most vulnerable families. The views we gathered have helped to shape the proposals set out on this page, which forms a second phase of the consultation.
Chidren’s centre services would continue to be provided from the six new hubs, and through local community venues and home visits.
Nick Bardsley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services and education, said:
“The proposed new delivery model for Early Help services across the county will provide whole family support, dealing with all the issues a family faces, with their full involvement and consent. The principle of delivering these services through bases or hubs was generally well received during the first consultation but now we want to know people’s views about these more detailed proposals, and about the proposed locations of the six hubs, and I urge them to let us know what they think.
“We want to provide support to children and families who are most in need of our help, quickly and in the right way. We also currently spend an awful lot of money on a lot of buildings, some of which are only used for a very small part of the week. We think it’d far better to focus our resources on providing services for those who need our help, rather than paying for buildings.”
Under the proposals services provided by Shropshire Council’s partners will also continue, including midwifery services, health visitor services and services for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, especially those with special needs.
Shropshire Council does not intend to close the 20 unneeded buildings but anticipates that they would be used by other organisations providing services for children and families.
The proposals have been drawn up following a previous consultation held in February and March 2018 in which families, stakeholders and staff were asked for their views on the idea of family hubs. Their views and opinions have helped to shape the proposals that will now go to further consultation.
Our proposal
We propose that Children's Centre services are delivered from six key buildings instead of the existing 26 buildings, namely:
- The Centre – Oswestry
- Richmond House – Shrewsbury
- Crowmoor Centre – Shrewsbury
- Rockspring Centre - Ludlow
...and buildings in Whitchurch and Bridgnorth that are yet to be decided on
Chidren’s Centre services would also be provided from local community venues and by home visits.
Under these proposals 20 current Children’s Centre buildings would no longer be required, so these will either be used to deliver the expansion of the 2/3/4 child care offer, or used by schools which support the delivery of early childhood services.
Services provided by our partners will also continue. These include midwifery services, the 0-19 public health nursing service and services for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, including those with special needs.
Have your say on the above by clicking the 'How to get involved' tab.
You can also find out more by attending one of several face-to-face information events we have planned. Event dates are attached to this page.
Also attached are the related cabinet report, and appendix A to the report, which details provision currently available in each town.
Documents
We want your views on proposed changes to services for children and young people aged 0-25 and their families in Shropshire as detailed in this document. You may respond as someone who uses these services or on behalf of an organisation.
Have your say on the proposals we're putting forward for future early help service provision...
Go to the online survey »If you don't want to respond online, you can email us your thoughts at bigconversation@shropshire.gov.uk
...or complete a pdf version of the survey and hand it in to your local children's centre, or post it to us (no stamp needed):
FREEPOST RSXA-YGES-CXCE, Big Conversation, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6BR