Location of Family Support Resource Bases

Family Support Resources can only be commissioned by Children and Family Fieldwork Teams. The resources provided will be dependent on assessed individual and family need, in accordance with the Lancashire model of Children in Need – thresholds and level of assessment. The resources will be developed locally in response to identified need. There are a number of general principles that relate to these resources:

• The resources do not provide services that are normally provided universally within the community, for example education of children and young people of statutory school age, financial maintenance that is the responsibility of the Department of Social Security, housing provision, and health provision.
• With the exception of the universal service above, the resources provide imaginative and flexible packages related to assessed individual need
• The provision of all services will be via a referral from Children's Social Care staff
• Other agencies wishing to make a referral will contact the customer care staff and will, other than for a child protection referral, need to complete a Multi Agency Assessment and Referral Form (MAARF)
• All referrals to the Directorate will be responded to in accordance with the Framework for Assessment
• The provision of family resource services within a complex family support package will be via a Child in Need Meeting
• Family Support resources will be provided in partnership with families, children and young people, Children's Social Care Directorate staff, including where appropriate those from Adult, Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams and other statutory and non-statutory agencies
• Family support resources will provide sensitive and appropriate services that meet the cultural needs and requirements of the communities they serve
• All services will be subject to review, with a maximum review date of six weeks for a service and three months for a child/young person's Plan
• The vast majority of family support resources will not be provided for more than one year
• Where it is proposed that any family support resources are to continue to be provided for more than one year there will be a specific review held to consider progress to date and future planning