Release date: 18/03/2010
By: Charlie Masson Smith
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020 8871 6173
or email cmassons@wandsworth.gov.uk
Minister visits 'outstanding' family centre
Children's minister Ed Balls was part of a high-flying delegation that yesterday (Wednesday) paid a fact finding visit to a Wandsworth Council-run and directly funded care centre for vulnerable families.
The secretary of state was joined by the Government's chief advisor for the safety of children Sir Roger Singleton, Baroness Delyth Morgan, minister of state for children, young people and families, Jeanette Pugh, DCSF lead for safeguarding, and Lord Laming, who chaired the public inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie, in visiting the council's residential family centre in Battersea.
The visit was arranged so that ministers and their top advisors on child protection could visit a front line service and see how social workers help families who are vulnerable or facing domestic difficulties. They also met with student social workers and one of the council’s trainee social workers to find out what they need to become confident and competent social workers.
The centre was chosen because it is one of only a few family centres in the country to have been judged outstanding by Government inspectors.
The centre, which is staffed 24 hours a day, provides parenting assessments, primarily for families with children under five-years-old. Some families live at the centre, for periods of up to three months, whilst being assessed while others receive support in the community.
It can accommodate up to four families; three in self contained flats and one in a self-contained bedsit. The families who receive support at the centre will have complex needs, such as learning disabilities, drug or alcohol misuse, mental health and family relationship difficulties.
There is support available from clinical psychologists and a systemic family therapist which enables families to receive indirect or direct support.
The most recent Ofsted inspection report found that families at the centre receive an outstanding service.
The inspectors noted: "There are arrangements for families to have access to local primary care centres. This includes, medical and developmental checks, vaccinations, dentists and opticians. Children's needs are promoted for the duration of their stay. All their identified health needs are recorded.
"The routine at the centre allows each parent and child access to education, training and employment as outlined in their care plan. An Under 8's worker is on site, whose role also allows them to place young people with registered carers who can assess their development and progress.
"Full assessments are made taking into account any predisposing risk factors and observations are made of parent and child interaction. Robust procedures are in place which ensures that vulnerable adult family members and children are safeguarded from all forms of abuse.
"The home has sufficient background information about families, provided through initial visits, planning meetings and referral forms in order to ensure that families are well placed and that the centre can meet their needs. This referral information is then used to identify the scope of the assessment of parenting capacity."
The chairman of the council's children and young people's scrutiny committee Cllr Peter Dawson, who welcomed the visitors on behalf of the authority said: "The work that goes on in our family centres is often unsung but it is vitally important in ensuring that children who are vulnerable or at risk in any way are properly protected and looked after."
"The staff who work there do an absolutely tremendous job in providing support and assistance to families in real need.
"I am delighted the minister and his advisors chose to come to Wandsworth to see the really effective and outstanding work that goes on at centres like this and I hope that any lessons they learned can be passed onto other similar establishments elsewhere in the country."
The above photo shows Mr Balls and Baroness Morgan meeting with staff at the centre.
ENDS
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