{"id":63796,"date":"2024-08-14T16:00:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T15:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=63796"},"modified":"2024-08-15T14:57:52","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:57:52","slug":"councillors-agree-the-structure-for-a-new-devon-family-hubs-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/councillors-agree-the-structure-for-a-new-devon-family-hubs-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Councillors agree the structure for a new Devon Family Hubs network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Councillors today (Wednesday 14 August) have given the green light to proposals setting out what Devon\u2019s new Family Hub network of services will look like.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of it will utilise former Children\u2019s Centre buildings already familiar to families, as well as additional locations in local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision to develop a network of Family Hubs across the county was taken by the council last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s decision by our Cabinet, following a lot of public engagement and consultation with families and professionals who work with families, is about the future use of the 27 former Children\u2019s Centre buildings as part of the new Family Hubs network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposals have since been revised to reflect the feedback, with Councillors asked to agree proposals for 9 main Family Hubs, 14 outreach spaces, and potentially 15 additional outreach sites yet to be identified to provide support to the Family Hubs network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the 27 current Children’s Centre buildings, 13 will be become part of the Family Hubs network and 14 will be used to provide family support, such as childcare, and services that support families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A breakdown of the proposed hub locations is below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transition from Children’s Centres into Family Hubs offering a broader range of support to a wider age group of children and their families, accessible to all without a need for professional referral, was generally welcomed by parents and professionals, consultation results show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most districts agreed with the proposals, where they did not, concerns focused on access to support specifically in Tavistock, Barnstaple, Holsworthy and Whipton, Exeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of responses in Mid Devon, East Devon, Torridge, South Hams and Teignbridge, generally supported the consultation proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the county, feedback was mainly positive about extending the age range of children and young people supported through Family Hubs, and about increasing the scope so that parents could seek support directly from a Family Hub rather than needing to be referred by a professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professionals who work with families were also positive about extending the scope to include universal support that families could access without referrals, stating that demand is there for this type of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And equally, the range of support available to families is important.  Parents spoke positively of centres where facilities provided opportunities for local groups, such as ‘stay and play’, as well as the need for space for private conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerns were expressed, if some local centres were to move, about distances to travel especially for families reliant on public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And ‘Step by Step’ groups were mentioned frequently and positively in feedback for their support to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents, and the importance for these groups to maintain suitable spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Councillors were also asked today to consider who will run the Family Hubs after the current contract with the charity, Action for Children, expires in March 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action for Children has delivered Children’s Centre services on behalf of the county council since 2017 and it is currently contracted to help the transition between Children’s Centres and Family Hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Councillors were given three options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n