Medway Conservatives are very pleased to be moving forward with a new model for the delivery of Early Help Services. The model, warmly welcomed and endorsed by officers, establishes four integrated Family and Children Hubs, as well as nine Children and Family Wellbeing Centres, a new Child Development Centre, and comprehensive Outreach services within the community.
Medway Conservatives are aware of the sensitivities of any change to services as important as those pertaining to our children’s wellbeing, and we have listened carefully and responded to all views raised via public consultation. The politicisation of the transformation and hijacking of the consultation process by Medway Labour Group has sadly eclipsed the numerous benefits that these changes bring, but the Conservative Group are delighted to now be progressing with an improved service.
Under the new model, all current services provided are to be retained and, in addition, services for families with a child with a disability or special educational needs will be available at the new Child Development Centre. Other early help services, for example CAMHS or family workers, will also be available at the hubs, meaning that families have easier access to any help they may need. The Conservative Group has also recognised the need to focus on further one to one family support for those with the greatest need.
Geographically, services will be well spread across Medway and area based teams will ensure continuity of staffing for families, as the nine Children and Family Wellbeing Centres will allow services to continue to be accessed locally. The new Outreach element of services will form an excellent part of the Conservative-led Council’s protection of children and support of families. The Conservative Group is particularly proud that hubs will not only support children throughout their early years, but through delivery of five years plus services such as school inclusions, youth service and parenting programmes.
For the Conservative Group, this transformation is most importantly an opportunity to move forward based on quality of service. Medway Conservatives are also determined to deliver the best value for money for Medway taxpayers, and it is excellent news that the financial restraints that have made transformation necessary will be met by annual revenue savings of £1.6 million. Following the lead of other authorities such as Wakefield, Nottingham and Derby , the Conservative Group strongly believe that the more joined-up approach to the provision of family, youth and early-years services will result in a streamlined service that exceeds statutory obligations and is even better positioned to help the most vulnerable children and families.