Working with families: lessons and challenges for practice Welfare to Work Convention 2011.

Working with families: lessons and challenges for practice

Welfare to Work Convention 2011

2Title of Presentation ‒ Section

‘Problem family’ focused work is high on the policy – and media - agenda

‘Multiple problems’

‘Worklessness’

‘Intergenerational’

‘Hard to reach, help’

Distant from the labour market

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Title of Presentation ‒ Section

Substantive context

• Work Programme – Prime and supply chain, black box, payment by results, large contract commissioning framework

• Community budgets – piloting local integration of multiple services, starting with families with complex needs

• As a new departure, the European Social Fund – £200m for work with families ‘with multiple problems, experiencing worklessness’ (more information at 3.30 in Session 37)

• Plus..

At take on challenges for practice – within the family and community/locality

The rationality of protecting a position with relative stability and functionality – and realistic, experience based understanding of the risks of change.

Undifferentiated , confrontational , institutionalised, jaundiced stance towards ‘the authorities’ and transitory intervention

Internal dynamics within the ‘family’, different and changing interests, desires and power, fragility

Influence of wider social networks

‘The informal economy’

All the different facets of the local ‘political economy’


At take on challenges – for ‘tasked’ providers

Capacity, skills, training, stamina, aptitude

Massively complex agency interactions, priorities

Identification, access, recruitment

Cost effectiveness, payment drivers

Safeguarding and risk management

Unrealistic expectations from pilot and high profile initiatives– the Heisenburg effect


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The problem is not a lack of awareness... but the lack of a tested solution’ (Tomorrow’s People)

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Tomorrows People suggest some answers

1. Understanding the extent of difference

2. Full follow through of making interagency work effective and trust inspiring

3. Very straightforward marketing, word of mouth and trusted messengers

4. Identifying and reinforcing positive messages, particularly to parents

5. Working with the particular ebb and flow

6. Unifying activities


Working with families: lessons and challenges for practice Welfare to Work Convention 2011.

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Transcript of Working with families: lessons and challenges for practice Welfare to Work Convention 2011.