Agenda item

To receive an update from Kate Kelly, Change & Challenge Manager.

Kate Kelly the Change and Challenge Manager introduced the update which relates to the Troubled Families programme.  Phase 2 of the programme was launched nationally in April 2015. It aims to promote earlier intervention for families with multiple problems, which are a high cost to the taxpayer, the aim is to show significant and sustained progress.

The following was highlighted:

• Payment to the LA is based on results and is centred on 6 criteria with eligibility indicators within them.
• A workshop was held in August and the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) attended who have developed a practical assessment and benchmarking tool to assist Local Authorities in engaging partner agencies and to further develop action planning for ongoing service transformation.  An implementation action plan has been developed for the delivery of the troubled families programme for Enfield.
• All cases that come through the Multi-agency meeting at the Single Point of Entry (SPOE) are screened and allocated to the Change and Challenge team if they meet 3 or 4 of our 6 eligibility criteria.  All cases meeting 2 or 3 of the eligibility criteria are allocated to the most appropriate service to hold a team around the family (TAF) and the Change and Challenge team are tracking and evidencing outcomes.
• Train the trainer courses in the TAF process will begin in March 2017. This is to further strengthen Enfield’s early help offer and will incorporate the signs of safety model.
• For phase 2 of the Change and Challenge Programme, Enfield have been asked by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to identify and turn around 2970 families by 2020. We have been asked to have a minimum of 859 new families coming onto the programme and 369 families to achieve continuous employment or significant and sustained progress in 2016/17. We currently have over 1500 families receiving an intervention and on the programme.
• It is necessary to identify needs quickly and ensure there is an integrated framework for dealing with families.  Many families are unemployed and on benefits. Employment workshops are offered and the team has successfully engaged with 80 clients.
• Serco have the contract to be known as ‘Inspiring Families’ and will deliver the work programme in Enfield co-located within the Change and Challenge team.
• The number of families that have received an intervention countable under the programme up to February 2017 is 1214. Of these families the highest percentage comes from the eastern side of the borough. Just under half of families who have had an intervention under the programme are aged 18-65 with over a quarter aged 10-17.
• A family must meet two of the criteria to be eligible for the programme, only a small number would meet all of the criteria.
• By January 2017 the team had claimed for 262 families under phase 2 of the project. A large percentage of the claims were for continuous  employment, and a smaller percentage where significant and sustained progress. 

Kate Kelly spoke of the challenges ahead for the team. There are continuously changing demands from DCLG, there is a need for a new family intelligence system (IT) to develop the Troubled Families programme.  It is necessary for all involved services to embrace the programme.  Problems are sometimes encountered with the sharing of information especially in relation to our health partners.  Although it has been challenging Kate Kelly was of the opinion that the team had made some progress.

The following issues were then raised:

• It is necessary to engage with families who may be ‘hard to reach’ - we promote the message that employment programmes are organised to help get them back into work, we encourage people to gain confidence for them to move forward. This may be done by sending flyers/ letters to clients about workshops available and arranging for work coaches to be present at ‘drop- ins’. We offer one to one or group sessions.
• The team is working with families where domestic violence has been identified. Difficulties were discussed about proving sustained progress if police call outs continue. It was stated that with some cases where intensive work has been put in place and an injunction has been obtained it is only where a perpetrator is arrested or the victim moves that progress can be made, and the intervention can be shown to be successful.  This is due to police call outs being a measureable outcome.
• Councillor Smith referred to a recent report published in relation to the first phase of the programme which raised the question at a national level as to whether the programme had been beneficial or not. He asked if the claims submitted as shown on page 6 of the report referred to Phase 1 of the programme and did the smaller sector shown on the pie chart refer to those people who have moved into employment?. Kate Kelly stated that the chart showed claims submitted for Phase 2 of the programme and said it was the larger sector of the pie chart that referred to people who had moved into employment.  She confirmed that the large majority of claims submitted showed people moving into employment.
• In Phase 2 of the programme there are additional requirements from  Phase 1. Additional outcomes must now be evidenced. There must be an assessment reflecting the needs of the whole family and then an action plan that reflects the issues raised in the assessment.  The administration of it is quite labour intensive and all details and evidence provided is in depth.

AGREED

Overview and Scrutiny noted and agreed the recommendations in the update report presented by the Change and Challenge Manager.

Kate Kelly was thanked for her report.