20 March 2025
Chief Executive Dr Jo Casebourne responds to new government moves to transform family and parenting support:
Responding to newly published guidance for local councils on the rollout of the Families First Partnership (FFP) programme (1) to support families and help keep children safe, Dr Jo Casebourne said:
“The government’s new FFP guidance envisages earlier help for families and parenting support at the right time in children’s lives, and highlights the importance of using the evidence about how to keep children safe in their family networks.
“We know that evidence-based approaches to support parenting and family relationships can significantly improve children’s outcomes. They can help steer children safely away from care, reduce their risk of harm, and help them to thrive.
“It’s crucial that local practice is informed by evidence about what works to support families, protect children, and help them thrive. The government highlights Foundations’ Practice Guides (2), commissioned by the DfE, as a key source for local councils on the evidence about how best to deliver support that makes a positive difference for families.
“We welcome the ‘family first’ approach that the FFP Guide takes to decision-making about children’s care. The proposed requirement for local councils to offer family-led meetings early is underpinned by our findings that Family Group Conferences before court proceedings can prevent children going into care and help keep them safely with their families (3).
“We look forward to working with local leaders and partners to implement evidence-based practice that can transform the lives of children, young people and families across the country”.
Contact: Lucy Burns, Head of Communications 07779 250 888 / lucy.burns@foundations.org.uk
About Foundations
Foundations is the national What Works Centre for Children & Families. We believe all children should have the foundational relationships they need to thrive in life. We’re researching, generating, and translating evidence into practical solutions that shape better policy and practice and lead to more effective family support services. Foundations was formed through the merger of What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) and the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) in December 2022.
Notes to editors
NOTE Foundations is working in partnership with local leaders to strengthen services by applying the key principles and recommendations in Practice Guides supporting Kinship Care and Parenting through Adversity (0-10). Next month we will publish the latest Practice Guide on Mentoring and Befriending for care experienced children and young people.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/councils-backed-with-over-500m-to-restore-family-services
- Commissioned by the Department for Education and produced by Foundations, Practice Guides offer evidence-based recommendations on approaches to supporting local authorities in achieving the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework. Find out more about Practice Guides here. The most recent Guide, the Parenting Through Adversity Practice Guide (0–10), can be accessed here.
- In 2023, we published findings from the first ever randomised controlled trial of Family Group Conferences in the UK, conducted by Coram and supported by Daybreak. You can access the report here.
