Warwickshire has been successful in its application to the DfE for Wave 2 of the Families First for Children Pathfinder Programme. This is a national test and learn initiative following the publication of the government response (Stable Homes, Built on Love) to the independent review of children’s social care by Josh McAllister.
All local authorities are expected to implement the recommendations by 2027 and by becoming a pathfinder, we are going to be at the forefront of these once in a lifetime reforms.
The Pathfinder Programme vision is to rebalance children’s social care away from costly crisis intervention to more meaningful and effective early support. The pathfinder will deliver new delivery models for family help, child protection, family networks and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements ahead of a national transformation. In particular they will be multi agency teams, which will be a great benefit to families and practitioners.
We are confident that the Pathfinder changes will make a real positive difference to children and families in Warwickshire but understand that for some of you may have some anxiety around change. Our aim is to continue to communicate and engage but also to codesign with you over the coming months as we begin to develop our plans for the future.
