The Children and Young People Select Committee met on Thursday, 18 July 2024, to discuss the integration of Children and Family Centres into Family Hubs and the progress of the Pathfinder programme. The committee resolved to recommend that decisions regarding the long-term locations of Family Hubs be made promptly and that they be provided with an update report. The committee also noted the report on the Pathfinder programme and agreed to its draft work programme.

Children and Family Centre and Family Hub Integration

The committee received an update on the integration of Lewisham Council's Children and Family Centres into its developing Family Hubs offer. This initiative, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), aims to create a single, equitable pathway for families with children aged 0-19 (up to 25 for those with SEND). The integration is intended to address inconsistencies in service provision across the borough, streamline resources in anticipation of reduced grant funding, and eliminate duplication between existing services.

Key points from the discussion included:

• Funding and Timeline: The DfE funding for Family Hubs and the Start for Life programme is set to conclude in March 2025. The integration of Children and Family Centres into the Family Hubs offer is planned to be completed by January 2025, with a fully operationalised integrated model by April 2025.
• Service Delivery: The new model will operate on a hub and spoke system, with services delivered from central hubs and distributed through various local spoke locations. Outreach services are being delivered in community settings such as GP surgeries, supermarkets, and libraries to ensure accessibility.
• Co-production: The development of the offer has involved co-production with stakeholders, including families, health partners, carers, and schools, through groups like the Family Hub Leadership Alliance. This has informed the Common Moral Purpose and pledges for the Family Hubs.
• Addressing Inequalities: Data analysis revealed an uneven distribution of service uptake across different areas of Lewisham, with some areas showing significantly lower engagement than their population demographics would suggest. The integration aims to create a more equitable geographic distribution of services, with a foundational offer in each area that can be expanded based on local needs. The report also highlighted the underrepresentation of certain ethnic groups in service uptake, which the outreach efforts aim to address.
• Digital Directory: Lewisham is participating in a DfE pilot for a digital directory to help families find and connect with local services.
• Specific Locations: The report mentioned ongoing work to establish Family Hubs in various areas, including the planned opening of the Honor Oak Youth and Family Hub in August 2024 and efforts to confirm a location for the Area 2 Family Hub, potentially at Kaleidoscope.
• Transport: It was noted that transport assistance would not be provided to help families access hubs.

The committee resolved to recommend that decisions regarding the long-term locations of Family Hubs be taken promptly and that the committee be provided with an update report at an appropriate time.

Pathfinder Programme

The committee received an update on Lewisham's participation in the Department for Education's (DfE) Families First for Children Pathfinder programme. Lewisham is one of seven local authorities selected for the second wave of this programme, which aims to test reforms to children's social care ahead of a national rollout.

Key aspects of the Pathfinder programme discussed were:

• Funding and Aims: Lewisham has received £3.3 million in DfE funding to implement reforms between March 2024 and March 2025. The programme's overarching aim is to shift focus from crisis intervention to more effective early support, rebalancing children's social care.
• Pillars of Reform: The Pathfinder will test reforms across four key areas:
  • Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements: Strengthening the role of education as a safeguarding partner and improving workforce development.
  • Family Help: Integrating targeted early help and children in need services into a single offer, with a focus on a strengths-based, family-led approach where families tell their story once.
  • Child Protection: Implementing a multi-agency response led by experienced practitioners.
  • Family Group Decision Making: Utilising models like Family Network Meetings and Family Group Conferences to involve wider family and friends in decision-making, with practical and financial support packages available.
• Lewisham's Model: The council's delivery plan includes allocating family support and safeguarding to four areas aligned with the Family Hubs model, creating four new family navigator posts, and developing a digital online offer. A Schools Cluster offer will be established to serve specific groups of schools, with a focus on children with SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) needs.
• Implementation: The delivery plan was approved by the DfE, and the implementation phase began in July 2024. The Multi-Agency Child Protection team and Family Help teams are anticipated to go live in September 2024.

The committee resolved to note the report on the Pathfinder programme.

Select Committee Work Programme

The committee discussed and agreed its draft work programme for the 2024-25 municipal year. The programme includes a range of topics for scrutiny, such as Family Hubs and Children and Family Centres, Pathfinder funding, youth services, and children's emotional well-being and mental health. The committee also reflected on its previous year's work, noting that its focus had predominantly been on education topics and that it had not made formal recommendations or referrals.

Suggestions for improving the committee's work programme for the upcoming year included meeting informally to discuss the programme in advance, actively considering opportunities to make recommendations, and building in capacity to review emergent and urgent issues.

The committee resolved to suggest that an item on Family Hubs and Children and Family Centres be considered at its first meeting of the 2024-25 municipal year.