Mark Raeburn’s viewpoint on children and family services from Capita One.

One of the real highlights of my job is visiting local authorities and finding out how the successful early help initiatives they have put in place are improving the lives of children and families.

I have heard about many innovative schemes designed to give children the best possible start in life – from improving access to ante-natal support for teen parents to encouraging more young families to take up their entitlement to free child care.

Early help programmes can provide a life line for young families and give vulnerable children the chance of a brighter future.

A better start in life

A few visits from a specialist outreach worker based in a local authority’s teen parenthood unit might be all that is needed to help an anxious young mother prepare for giving birth, and improve the chances that she keeps her and her baby healthy and stays in education. With the right help, she could find work and gain some key parenting skills that her child – and any future children – will benefit from for many years to come.

But effective early intervention can reap rewards at any stage of life – from birth, through education and working life and into old age. The challenge for local authorities is knowing who needs help, and what help they need.

Turning data into knowledge

Read more on WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DELIVER EARLY HELP TO CHILDREN?…