Bath & North East Somerset Council is celebrating a new
partnership with three voluntary sector organisations.
The Early Years and Extended Services Team put their Family
Support Services out to a tendering process in November 2007.
Several organisations applied for the contract, which was
eventually awarded to a local partnership of Barnardos, First Steps
Bath and Southside Family Project.
The new contract, which will be in place from April 2008, means
more support for children up to age 11 and their families will be
available across Bath and North East Somerset, and much of this
support will be available in local communities through Children’s
Centre Services.
More staff will be employed to work as outreach support workers
and group leaders to provide services that are responsive to the
needs of individual communities. Part of the work is a pilot
project to promote stronger links between schools and home. The
Parent Support Advisor will be working with schools in Bath.
Children’s Centre services already provide support to families
of children under five, and the new contract gives an opportunity
to expand on the excellent work already being done. The role of the
local community, and in particular, children and their families,
will be crucial in determining the services and types of support
offered.
The recent process was the start of a new way of working with
local families. From a local dad sitting as a member of the
interview panel for the tender process, to talking directly to
families in the community about what they feel they need, the views
of local people will help the Council to decide how we spend our
funding for Children’s Centre Services at every stage.
Councillor Chris Watt said: "Bath & North East Somerset
Council is very happy to be working in partnership with the
voluntary sector to support local families. One of the Council’s
Cabinet’s priorities is making better lives for our young people.
The Council will be able to draw on the valuable expertise,
knowledge and experience of the three different organisations and
their staff to provide an improved service for children under 11
and their families."
