Early intervention programme for families extended

A Welsh Labour Government programme to deliver intensive support to families with complex needs has been extended to cover the whole of Wales.

Integrated Family Support Services (IFSS) aim to keep families together by helping them to take positive steps to change and improve their lives.

The flagship early intervention programme is for families whose children are at risk of being taken into care where parental alcohol or substance misuse issues are a major contributing factor. It is also designed to help with other difficulties within those families such as domestic violence or mental health problems.

Local authorities in Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd, working in collaboration with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, will establish IFSS teams to support families as a unit. This means all Welsh local authorities, in partnership with their respective local health boards, are offering timely access to the service.

This is part of the Welsh Labour Government’s vision for sustainable social services in Wales and is an example of the kind of partnership work outlined in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill, which is currently undergoing scrutiny by the National Assembly for Wales.