Help for children at risk of going into care

VULNERABLE children in Warrington at risk of going into care because of their parents’ mental health, domestic violence or addiction problems will benefit from projects designed to tackle these issues and keep them safely together at home.
Backed by £84 million of new investment secured in the last Budget, children in Warrington will benefit from projects being launched in 15 new areas designed to tackle challenges when they arise at home, boosting family resilience and creating stable homes where children can thrive.
Data shows Warrington Borough Council has a higher number of children in care than the national average, so it will adopt ‘No Wrong Door’, one of three successful projects created through the Government’s landmark Innovation Programme designed to support families to stay together wherever appropriate, so that fewer children need to be taken away from their birth families.
Cllr Matt Smith, cabinet member for children’s services at the council, said:
“It’s fantastic news that Warrington has been successful in securing a place on the programme.
“In Warrington, we have an established partnership working between health, education, the police and other public service professionals, which we can build on and improve, and this funding will help us to achieve even better outcomes for young people in need of support. We want to ensure every child has access to the right support when they need it, and that every step is taken to protect them from harm.”
Children and Families Minister Michelle Donelan said: “I want every child to grow up in safe, stable and loving home where they feel supported to take on the challenges life can present. However, in Warrington we have seen increasing numbers of children being taken into care, often as a result of their parents’ mental illness, alcohol or drug addiction, or the trauma of domestic violence.
“We cannot ignore the disruption to children’s lives that these issues cause, and that is why this government is investing in projects that tackle problems head on, backed by evidence that shows it can work. The ‘No Wrong Door’ model is already proving to be successful in keeping families safely together, and giving stability for children where it did not exist before.”