Derbyshire families benefiting as Families First Partnership programme goes live across the county

Credit: DCC

Children, young people and families across Derbyshire, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are already benefiting from new ways of working designed to provide earlier support, stronger family involvement and better joined-up services.

The changes are being delivered through the Families First Partnership (FFP), led by Derbyshire County Council as part of the Government’s national programme to reform services for children and families.

FFP aims to ensure families receive the right help at the right time by bringing services together, reducing barriers to support and strengthening the role families play in decisions that affect them.

The programme focuses on three key areas:

• Family Help, providing earlier and more coordinated support through one lead practitioner and a shared family plan.
• Family Group Decision Making (FGDM), helping families take a more active role in decisions affecting their children.
• Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPT), bringing professionals together to make better-informed safeguarding decisions more quickly.

Family Help has now been introduced across South Derbyshire and Erewash, meaning all three parts of the FFP programme are now supporting children and families in those areas ahead of a planned countywide rollout in spring 2027.

These early phases are helping partners understand what works well and where improvements can be made before the programme is expanded across Derbyshire.

Since launching in May, Family Group Decision Making has supported 65 children from 31 families, helping families come together with relatives, friends and professionals to identify solutions and agree plans that build on the strengths already within their family networks.

Early feedback suggests families feel more involved in decision-making and more confident that their voices are being heard.

The Multi-Agency Child Protection Team model is also helping services work together more effectively.

Since June, professionals from Children’s Services, Health, Police and Education have collaborated around the needs of 384 children, helping professionals discuss concerns sooner and make decisions about the support children need.

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Families Councillor Paul Maginnis said: “Families don’t experience life through separate services, and they shouldn’t have to navigate support that way either. Families First Partnership is about ensuring children, young people and families can access help more easily, with professionals working together around their needs rather than expecting families to tell their story multiple times.”

“We’re already seeing encouraging signs that these new ways of working are helping families feel more involved, strengthening relationships between services and making support more responsive. The learning from this phase will help us continue improving the approach before it is rolled out across Derbyshire next year.”

Early feedback from families and professionals is already demonstrating the difference these new approaches can make. Families taking part in Family Group Decision Making are already reporting positive changes in everyday life, including happier children, improved routines, stronger family relationships and more positive experiences at home and in school.

To find out more about the Families First Partnership and the support available to children, young people and families across Derbyshire, visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/FFP