County Council to launch new Family Support Service after legal challenge dismissed
The new Family Support Service, designed to improve the lives of children and families, will be launched in September by the County Council following a High Court ruling backing its plans to change how it helps families in need in the county.
The Council welcomes today’s decision by High Court Judge, Mrs Justice Andrews DBE, to comprehensively dismiss a Judicial Review on all grounds, including failure to properly consult, failure to comply with statutory duties and procedural failures in the Council decision-making processes. In handing down her decision to dismiss the claim for Judicial Review, Mrs Justice Andrews said she was satisfied that the consultation had been entirely fair and that ‘the Council carried out the Consultation before it made the Decision; it took the responses properly into account, and it complied with all its relevant statutory duties.’
The new Family Support Service has been carefully designed to provide better, more targeted support for vulnerable families, who face a range of issues or more complex challenges. These families will have a team in place to support them to address all their needs – with the ultimate aim of helping them to overcome their problems leading to happier and healthier lives.
Universal support for families across Buckinghamshire will be provided at a network of 16 family centres which will offer a wider range of services and provide improved access through extending opening hours beyond what is currently available at many existing children’s centres.
The Council is committed to using the 19 former children’s centres for alternate provision from the autumn, which will be primarily for early years benefit and community use. Before the new service starts, there will be a full programme of activities for local families throughout the summer at the existing network of children’s centres.
Warren Whyte, Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “We are very pleased with the court’s decision to dismiss this judicial review. It is regrettable, however, that we have had to contest it at all, as this has been a very costly process – both financially and in terms of the time spent by our team in preparing for this hearing. These proceedings have caused anxiety for our staff and critically, could have shifted focus and energy away from the children and families who need our support.
“This has never been about withdrawing any services – quite the opposite; it’s about enhancing how we help families across Buckinghamshire with children of all ages. People who need extra support will be able to get it in a more targeted way under the new Family Support Service.
“The very reason we are making changes to our service is to make sure families and children in greatest need of help in Buckinghamshire get that help sooner. By providing those families the right support at the right time, as well as maintaining a universal offer for everyone at 16 family centres, we can work to prevent families’ issues escalating, by offering help before their problems get worse.”