Council Agrees To Bring Key Family Service In-House

Councillors at Neath Port Talbot Council have agreed to bring a key family support function in-house to deliver a wider range of services to children and young people in need. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following a review of service provision, the Council has decided to bring the Family Action Support Team (FAST) in-house to operate as part of its Children and Young People Services. The FAST service is currently commissioned to third sector organisation, Action for Children to provide a number of family support services. This arrangement is due to come to an end on 31st March next year in line with procurement regulations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Moving the FAST service to operate in-house will enable the Council to provide a more holistic support service that is better placed to meet the needs of children, young people and families. It is proposed that the savings made by utilising the existing in-house management could be reinvested in the provision of a clinical support service to complement the FAST service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This would see the creation of a full time Psychologist and a full time Play Therapist to improve the emotional well-being services available to children and young people. Providing specialist clinical support in addition to the FAST service would widen the support available and could reduce the number of children admitted into the Council’s care system. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The FAST service provides support to the most complex young people and children to safely enable them to remain living within their family. This support includes – a Rapid Response Service that provides an immediate short term crisis intervention service; a Re-unification Service to place young people into care while provision is put in place to safely place them back with their family; and a Family Outreach service to provide longer term practical support to vulnerable parents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The current model of support was developed over a decade ago and its effectiveness has since diminished over time. The new in-house service will give the Council more control, flexibility and accountability to meet the needs of children, young people and families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“One of the Council’s key priorities is to make a positive difference to the children and young people we serve so that they are safer, can remain in their own families and get the best start in life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council makes decisions on how to provide services based on what works best in each case and is most effective and that analysis shows best serves the people who use our services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Bringing the FAST service in-house will help us to improve the service we deliver by offering additional clinical support whilst also maintaining the existing support that is currently in place.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The change, which will take effect from 1st April 2017, was agreed by the Council’s Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Board on Thursday 3rd November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​