A new Family Hub Service, re-focussing support on the most vulnerable children, young people and families, has been officially launched in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
The hubs integrate early help support and enable staff to work more intensively with referred families which need that tailored help, improving children’s life chances while reducing the need for statutory intervention.
Supporting people from birth to 18 years old, and up to 25 years for young people with a learning difficulty or disability, the one-stop service operates from two main hub buildings, in Windsor and Maidenhead, although practitioners will be undertaking outreach work across the borough, meeting families in their homes, in community venues and even outdoor spaces if needed.
Within the service are family coaches, family hub workers, youth workers, parenting workers, substance misuse workers and a youth engagement officer. Each worker helps people on a one-to-one basis, or within groups, collaborating with other specialists and partner services to connect families to the right support.
The Family Hub Service also provides a number of group sessions and projects for young people and parents. After operating virtually in a reduced capacity during Covid restrictions, the Family Hub Service officially launched this week as an in-person service, with Cllr Stuart Carroll, cabinet member for children’s services, visiting one of those projects for young people at Windsor Family Hub, in Alma Road.
Cllr Carroll said: “The Family Hub Service re-focusses our concerted energies and time on the most vulnerable children, young people and families in our communities, giving us the greatest chances of improving lives, life opportunities and wellbeing, while reducing the need for statutory intervention.
“This integrated service tailors early help support to meet the individual and often complex needs of families who are referred into this service model, which is in line with national best practice. I’m very pleased to see the official launch of the in-person service, which has got off to a great start with specialists collaborating across the service and with our partners to strengthen families and deal with issues sooner.
“With our two main hubs in Windsor and Maidenhead, plus five satellite hubs in those towns, we are using our highest footfall facilities more intensively and combining that with responsive and effective outreach work right across the Royal Borough, ensuring we have the right services in the right places.”
For further information including how to make a referral, please contact
familyhubs@achieivngforchildren.org.uk or visit
https://rbwm.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/community-information/information-and-advice/support-and-advice-for-families
