A new family help programme is being launched in Stoke-on-Trent, which aims to help families find the support they need.

Families in Stoke-on-Trent are set to benefit from the local delivery of the government's Families First Partnership.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says the new programme is designed to make support "simpler, earlier and more effective" by placing families with one Family Help Lead Practitioner who will act as a single point of contact.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "In Stoke-on-Trent we want families to get the right support at the right time, without the stress of repeating their story to different services. A single point of contact will make that possible.

"One trusted practitioner will build a relationship with each family, coordinate help and make support clearer and more joined up.

"This builds on what already works in our city and gives families one contact, one shared plan and one clearer route into support.

"This is about evolution, not revolution. By stepping in earlier, we can make support less stressful and more effective – helping families through challenges before they become crises."

Family Help Lead Practitioners will bring together support from education, health, early help, housing and wider services.

The city council says the programme focuses on early help "so issues can be addressed before they grow into crisis".

Support may include help for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), guidance for families from different cultural backgrounds, support for families where a parent is in custody and practical day-to-day assistance.

Claire Bailey, Managing Director of the Children and Families Care Group at the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The Families First Partnership Programme puts health and support at the heart of family life – strengthening wellbeing by supporting families early, working together across services, including MPFT's Integrated 0-19 Health Visiting & School Nursing Service and building the foundations for healthier, more resilient communities.

"When families are supported to thrive, health outcomes improve for everyone."

In Stoke-on-Trent, the new programme will build on the existing Family Matters programme.

Detective Chief Superintendent, Sally Blaiklock, Head of Public Protection, Staffordshire Police, said: "Families First is a significant step forward in how we support and protect children, young people and families.

"By bringing agencies together through one coordinated approach, we can identify vulnerability earlier, reduce harm and ensure families receive the right support before problems escalate into crisis.

"Building on the strong partnerships already established across Stoke-on-Trent, this programme will strengthen safeguarding, support victims and help deliver better outcomes for those who need us most."

Vanessa Whatley, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Boards, said: "We welcome the introduction of the Families First Partnership Programme in Stoke-on-Trent, which reflects our shared commitment to providing earlier, more joined-up support for children, young people and their families.

"By bringing services together around a single trusted practitioner, families will find it easier to access the right help at the right time.

"Partnership working is central to improving outcomes for children and families, and this programme strengthens collaboration across services, ensuring families receive co-ordinated support that is accessible and focused on helping children and young people thrive."

The council says the delivery of Families First is being shaped using feedback from local children and families to ensure that the programme reflects real experiences in the city.

For more information, visit the Stoke-on-Trent City Council website here.