Luton families to benefit from innovative child protection service

The service aims to achieve better health and educational outcomes for children and to help keep families safely together.

The funding is part of a joint bid, led by Hertfordshire County Council, with Luton Borough Council, Peterborough City Council, Bracknell Forest Council and West Berkshire Council.

A total of £11.6 million was awarded and will be used to implement the innovative Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding model within the local authorities, officers from Hertfordshire County Council will support Luton Borough Council to ensure the model is adopted effectively.

Councillor Mahmood Hussain, portfolio holder for children and young people, said: “We are delighted that we will be the first authority to go live with this innovative model, which will bring together professionals with expertise in adult mental health,substance misuse and domestic abuse within our social workers teams, enabling our social workers to focus on children’s needs.

“Currently our social workers, just like other local authorities, have to deal with everything as the lead worker so this is a very different approach.

“Creating a multidisciplinary team will help improve information sharing, identify risks in families more quickly and allow us to provide intensive support to parents to tackle their root problems such as mental health issues and at the same time ensure children are fully protected.

“We are truly committed to improving the health and wellbeing of children and families within Luton - a key priority of the Council’s Luton Investment Framework, which aims to secure £1.5 billion investment to transform the town.”