The Children and Young People Select Committee met to discuss the integration of Children and Family Centres into Family Hubs, the progress of the Families First for Children Pathfinder programme, and to plan the committee's work programme for the upcoming year.

Children and Family Centre and Family Hub Integration

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of integrating Lewisham's Children and Family Centres into the new Family Hubs model. This initiative aims to create a unified pathway for children and young people aged 0-19 (up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - SEND) and their families. The report outlined plans to insource existing Children and Family Centre provision by October 2024 and integrate it into the Family Hub offer by January 2025. This integration is intended to provide a more equitable and consistent service across the borough, addressing issues such as duplication of services and varying levels of access. The report detailed the timeline of engagement and decision-making, the current Children and Family Centre offer, and the proposed Family Hubs model, which includes a hub and spoke approach across four areas of Lewisham. The report also highlighted the financial implications, noting the end of the Department for Education's (DfE) Start for Life grant in March 2025 and the need for a sustainable model.

Families First for Children Pathfinder

The committee was also scheduled to receive an overview of the Families First for Children (FFC) Pathfinder programme. Lewisham has been selected as one of the local authorities to participate in this DfE initiative, which aims to test reforms in children's social care. The programme, running from March 2024 to March 2025 with £3.3 million in DfE funding, seeks to rebalance the system towards early support rather than crisis intervention. The report outlined the programme's vision for a seamless offer where families can access the right help at the right time, with a focus on co-production, strengths-based approaches, and multi-agency working. The Pathfinder will test radical new delivery models across four key areas: Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements, Family Help, Child Protection, and Family Group Decision Making. The implementation phase of the programme had recently commenced, with a delivery plan approved by the DfE.

Select Committee Work Programme

The committee was asked to discuss and agree its priorities for the 2024-25 municipal year and to establish its annual work programme. The report outlined the committee's role in scrutinising services and policies related to children and young people, including schools, children's social care, and SEND provision. It also discussed ways to improve scrutiny, aligning the work programme with the Council's corporate strategy and considering opportunities for informal information gathering, public engagement, and visits. The draft work programme included potential topics such as Family Hubs, the Pathfinder funding, youth services, children's mental health, and school standards. The committee was also reminded of the importance of considering financial and equalities implications when setting its priorities.