Families are referred to the Targeted offer (parenting programmes and bespoke support) via a request for service by another professional or self referral. If intensive family support is required then a referral for the troubled families programme is processed (known locally as Strengthening Families) and a Family Worker allocated for a longer intervention up to 12 months. The universal offer is provided by partner agencies i.e. Health and also Barnardo’s Volunteers or partnerships with preschool settings.
Other agencies can book rooms free of charge at our centres if they are providing a service for children and families. Other providers can also deliver services through the centre and depending on whether they charge the service user whether we charge them. We have partnership agreements in place and carry our due diligence.
We have 3 locality Hubs with additional spoke sites that services are delivered from by Barnardo’s and partner agencies. The hub sites are at East Newport, with spoke sites in West With, West Newport and Cowes, Ryde with spoke site at East Cowes and Sandown with spoke sites in Shanklin and Ventnor.
A key part of our service offer is the intensive family support service (currently provided through the Troubled Families Programme). Having the Hubs and spoke sites as venues for all families to access services reduces the stigma of receiving a higher level of support. The Family Centres/Hubs are seen as a point of contact to request support or be signposted on to the appropriate agency.
Outcomes
In 2019-20 we received 664 requests for support increased from 378 in 2018-19 and 264 in 2017-18;
Within the Strengthening Families programme there is a DWP worker seconded to the project to support with benefits and readiness for work.
- Our engagement rate is 93.1% which has also increased year on year.
- 665 parents attended our parenting programmes in 2019-20 with 91% reporting improvements in their confidence and understanding.
- Our Intensive Family Support service supported 509 families in 2019-20 with an engagement rate of 90.2%.
- As a payment by results service we successful claimed for 254 families and increase of 87 from 2018-19. Families can be supported for up to a year so outcomes achieved are claimed up to 6 months after our work is completed.
