Supporting Families for professionals

What is the Supporting Families Programme?

The Supporting Families Programme (SFP) is led by The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The SFP has been created to transform services and ensure that all professionals work using a whole family approach considering all family members within assessments and family plans rather than focusing on individual needs. 

The SFP encourages services to work with families with multiple issues or concerns, taking on an integrated whole family approach. This approach recognises and deals with their overlapping and interconnected problems and histories.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SFP, the family must be open to Targeted Early Help and meet three or more of the following criteria:

  • Education
  • Early years development
  • Mental health and physical health
  • Promoting recovery and reducing harm from substance use
  • Family relationships
  • Child abuse and exploitation
  • Crime
  • Domestic abuse
  • Housing
  • Financial stability

The family would only be eligible if they are not already open to Childrens Social Care.

Benefits

  • Whole family working
  • Up to 12 months support
  • Multi-agency support
  • Access to a SFP Employment Advisor and Early Help volunteer

Referral process

  • Obtain consent to complete an Targeted Early Help Assessment
  • Obtain consent from all family members over the age of 18 years. You must complete the consent section of the referral form
  • Identify three or more criteria’s for the family
  • Complete a SFP referral form
  • Include your latest assessment: (Targeted Early Help Assessment)
  • Email your completed referral form, Targeted Early Help Assessment and Targeted Early Help Plan (if applicable) to supporting.families@iow.gov.uk

If you require any further information, please contact the Isle of Wight Council Children’s Services Resource Team on 01983 823169

Post-referral process

Process after application form has been submitted:

  • Once we have received your referral form and documents, you will receive a notification
  • Further checks will be carried out with DWP, Education and Police
  • If eligible the referral will be discussed at our weekly multi agency Supporting Families Hub
  • Panel will decide the most appropriate support to be provided for the family
  • Once this has taken place, a decision document will be sent to you. This will advise you of the support to be offered to the family
  • You will need to arrange for the family to be informed of the decision
  • We aim to complete this process within 15 days of all required information being received

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