Project Description

Havering experienced an increase of 26% of children in the care system since 2016 as a result of inward migration, along with a rise in the number of looked after children and care leavers. Running for two years and ending in November 2019 Face to Face Pathways aimed to decrease the likelihood of children coming into care, improve care provision for the most vulnerable looked after children and better support young people leaving care.

The project involved: a predictive model for edge of care provision to support families earlier; systemic fostering, intensively supporting care for children with complex needs; and an extended leaving care service to young people of 14 to 25 years old.

Havering experienced an increase of 26% of children in the care system since 2016 as a result of inward migration, along with a rise in the number of looked after children and care leavers. Running for two years and ending in November 2019 Face to Face Pathways aimed to decrease the likelihood of children coming into care, improve care provision for the most vulnerable looked after children and better support young people leaving care.

The programme concluded in November 2019 and many of the successful interventions have been transferred as a mainstream service. Data identified by the project shows that, at the edge of care, 95% of the children entering the programme have remained out of care, many stepping down from Child Protection and Child in Need. For the in-care strand, the local authority has avoided costs estimated at £750k and outcomes for 12 children have been improved and placement stability has been achieved. At the Leaving Care strand the project have began to change processes and protocols via the Pathway Coordinator roles that are now fully funded by the local authority.

Evaluation

DfE funded independent evaluation will be published in 2020.