Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service participates in national research project
The pioneering work to provide integrated, outcome-based support for families in Essex is part of a national research project being carried out on behalf of the Department for Education.
Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service (ECFWS), run by HCRG Care Group in partnership with Barnardo’s and on behalf of Essex County Council and Hertfordshire and West Essex NHS Integrated Care Board, established its family hub model back in 2017.
The hubs provide services in the heart of local communities for children, young people and their families to easily access a variety of holistic support and activities from ECFWS and other organisations. This integrated way of working brings together health and social care and has been proven to make a positive difference to families in Essex with:
- 99% of children and young people supported reaching their personal goals following a period of support.
- 98% of risks removed/mitigated for children and young people following subsequent assessments.
- 98% of young parents making more positive lifestyle choices following support.
- 97% of mothers saying their emotional wellbeing improved after support.
- 97% of children and young people supported being able to manage their care at home and avoiding hospital admission/extended stay.
The model is now being studied as part of the Family Hubs Innovation Fund Evaluation project, delivered by Ecorys UK, in partnership with Clarissa White Research and Starts Consulting.
Researchers are gathering information about the implementation, processes, outcomes, impacts and economic benefits of family hubs in five different geographical areas, at different stages of maturity, with the Essex Family Hubs being the longest established.
Pat Birchall, Chief Operating Officer at HCRG Care Group, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in this research project, which is providing valuable insight to help shape the future of family hubs across the country. We have a strong background of changing people’s lives by transforming health and care, and the early findings from this report validate the innovative work we have been doing in Essex over the past five years to support families and ensure that children and young people have the best start in life.”
Adrian Coggins, Head of Wellbeing and Public Health at Essex County Council, said: “We are part way on a journey, but I am incredibly proud of the integration of family support and outcomes across a range of previously separate services that ECFWS has achieved in its family hubs to date. We are committed to working with other research agencies to get independent validation of our outcomes.”
Heidi Dennis, Assistant Director of Children’s Services at Barnardo’s said: “We are delighted that the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service is sharing valuable insight into the vital role that family hubs play in the community. Barnardo’s has long been calling for a family hub in every community; these services provide value both in monetary terms and for the families that are able to receive this support. By investing in early support, we believe it is possible to not only improve outcomes for families but save money spent on more costly late intervention. Our ‘It Takes a Village: The Case for Family Support in Every Community’ calculated that for every £1 spent on our intensive family support service delivered through a family hub £2.60 was saved through money not spent on late intervention.”
This is the first piece of research to be collated on the topic of family hubs. An interim findings report has been published today (15 December) and the full study is due to be completed by March 2023.
