To receive a verbal presentation.

A Presentation led by Elizabeth Hartley, Senior Manager Targeted Services highlighted to Members the impact of the Intensive Family Intervention Programme (IFIP).

Members heard how during the period April 2012- March 2015, 910 families were involved in the IFIP programme. This pertained to Phase 1 of the contract It was explained how the eligibility criteria was as follows:

·  School attendance less than 85%

·  Involvement in crime or anti-social behaviour

·  Parent in receipt of out – of –work benefits

Expected outcomes to the programme were reported as follows:

·  School attendance of 85% or above over 3 school terms

·  Reduction in crime (by 33%) and anti-social behaviour by 67%

·  Parents into employment

·  Parents evidencing progress to employment.

In delivering this programme, Members were informed of how there were dedicated staff teams, staff fully trained in level 4 working with parents model, learning on what works from national and local IFIPs and a number of professionals from partner agencies had been seconded to assist. The governance of the scheme had been through a multi-agency IFIP board and regular reporting to the Wirral Safeguarding Children Board, Children’s Trust and Children’s Joint Commissioning Group. The Model was described as a whole family approach involving one lead worker, an assessment and a plan.

It was then explained that 834 families achieved outcomes against school attendance and/or crime and or/social behaviour, 65 families achieved continuous employment and 97 families achieved progress to work.

Members were then made aware of Wirral statistics in line with the national average and the TF aggregate. It was explained that Wirral on average had a higher percentage of: lone parent families with an average of 2 children, families who rent their home; households with no one working and with a net household income of £7,800 - £12,479.

Overall, it was reported that:

·  92% of families self – assessed that their parenting capacity had improved.

·  70% of families with substance misuse issues engaged with support to address their problem.

·  84% of families self – reported an improvement in mental health; and

·  67% of families were supported to register with a GP and/or dentist.

The Senior Manager for Targeted Services then reported how the scheme has been expanded to work with 3010 troubled families during the period April 2015 – March 2020. The Eligibility criteria had been continued to include:

·  School attendance (increase from 85% to 90%)

·  Parents in receipt of out – of work comments.

·  Crime and anti-social behaviour

It was further explained that the eligibility criteria has broadened to include:

·  Parents and children with mental health problems

·  Families experiencing domestic abuse

·  Children in need of help.

The Senior Manager then responded to questions from Members and the Committee were advised that the expanded scheme involving 3010 families did not include the initial 900 families involved in the first phase. The Committee were then informed that out of the 3010 families, only 15 had been re – referred by the initial phase of the project.

Resolved – That the Senior Manager, Targeted Services be thanked for her presentation