Agenda item

13.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, submitted a report regarding the proposed development of the Building Successful Families Programme.

13.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

delegates to the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Families, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, the authority to establish the Building Successful Families Programme as described in Section 4 of this report;

(b)

delegates to the Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, in consultation with the Director of Finance, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People  and Families, the authority to agree an investment and resource plan for the programme for the period 2012-15, taking into account the income profile set out in the report;

(c)

delegates to the Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, the authority to take any further action necessary to achieve the outcomes outlined in this report; and

(d)

recognises and approves that any income received in advance, due to the time lag between receipt of the funding and the spending on the programme as explained in the body of this report, will be required to be 'carried forward' to future years and should not be considered to be an under spend in year, on the understanding that this amount will be highlighted in the monthly budget monitoring reports for approval.

13.3

Reasons for Decision

13.3.1

The City Council has been invited to participate in the Government’s Troubled Families initiative by committing to the financial framework and payment mechanism published by the Department of Communities and Local Government.  This scheme offers significant new resources to support the development of our existing plans to provide whole household interventions to families with multiple and complex problems.

13.3.2

By making use of the new resources, the City Council has the opportunity, working with a range of local partners, to further improve family support services so that they are better coordinated, more efficient and deliver impact. In this the City Council will embed the successes of pilot work already undertaken and will, in addition, provide a model of sustainability in a climate of public spending reductions.

13.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

13.4.1

The City Council could decide not to participate in the Government’s Troubled Families initiative.  This would mean turning down considerable additional resources, but would also mean Sheffield missing out on the opportunity to build on what its previous Family Intervention pilots have shown work and therefore the chance to invest these new resources in the system-wide service redesign necessary to improve the life chances of those families with complex needs. For these reasons, participation in the initiative is recommended 

13.4.2

The  City Council could use the resources made available through  the Government’s Troubled Families Programme to set up a new ‘Troubled Families’ service in Sheffield.  This option has been rejected because:

·       most of the families identified are likely to already be in touch with a range of support services.  We intend to use the programme to better coordinate these services, rather than add an additional service to the range of support made available

·       the City Council and other partners have already moved some way towards developing more joined up approaches to working with families with complex needs.  It would be a waste of resources to set up a parallel programme.

13.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

13.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

13.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families

13.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Children, Young People and Families

13.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, submitted a report regarding the proposed development of the Building Successful Families Programme.

13.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

delegates to the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Families, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, the authority to establish the Building Successful Families Programme as described in Section 4 of this report;

(b)

delegates to the Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, in consultation with the Director of Finance, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People  and Families, the authority to agree an investment and resource plan for the programme for the period 2012-15, taking into account the income profile set out in the report;

(c)

delegates to the Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, the authority to take any further action necessary to achieve the outcomes outlined in this report; and

(d)

recognises and approves that any income received in advance, due to the time lag between receipt of the funding and the spending on the programme as explained in the body of this report, will be required to be 'carried forward' to future years and should not be considered to be an under spend in year, on the understanding that this amount will be highlighted in the monthly budget monitoring reports for approval.

13.3

Reasons for Decision

13.3.1

The City Council has been invited to participate in the Government’s Troubled Families initiative by committing to the financial framework and payment mechanism published by the Department of Communities and Local Government.  This scheme offers significant new resources to support the development of our existing plans to provide whole household interventions to families with multiple and complex problems.

13.3.2

By making use of the new resources, the City Council has the opportunity, working with a range of local partners, to further improve family support services so that they are better coordinated, more efficient and deliver impact. In this the City Council will embed the successes of pilot work already undertaken and will, in addition, provide a model of sustainability in a climate of public spending reductions.

13.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

13.4.1

The City Council could decide not to participate in the Government’s Troubled Families initiative.  This would mean turning down considerable additional resources, but would also mean Sheffield missing out on the opportunity to build on what its previous Family Intervention pilots have shown work and therefore the chance to invest these new resources in the system-wide service redesign necessary to improve the life chances of those families with complex needs. For these reasons, participation in the initiative is recommended 

13.4.2

The  City Council could use the resources made available through  the Government’s Troubled Families Programme to set up a new ‘Troubled Families’ service in Sheffield.  This option has been rejected because:

·       most of the families identified are likely to already be in touch with a range of support services.  We intend to use the programme to better coordinate these services, rather than add an additional service to the range of support made available

·       the City Council and other partners have already moved some way towards developing more joined up approaches to working with families with complex needs.  It would be a waste of resources to set up a parallel programme.

13.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

13.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

13.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families

13.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Children, Young People and Families