Families have told us that it can sometimes be difficult to know how and where to access support when you need it. We also know that services don’t always run seamlessly together or feel like they are well connected.
For this reason, Merton applied for government funding to set up Family Hubs. We wanted to improve the way that we coordinate and deliver services, improving access to, and take up of family support offers that you might know as ‘Early Help’. Alongside twelve other local authorities, Merton has been working to ‘transform’ to a Family Hub model. This is a proven approach that aims to help children, young people and families in our borough to belong, stay safe and thrive.
The Merton Family Hub programme will deliver help and advice at all stages of family life, through a ‘core’ offer across 24 services. The services included are varied and provide a range of support to Merton families and some children/young people who attend school in the borough. Family Hubs deliver support from the very start of life, right through to the age of 19, or up 25 years for families with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Support available through Family Hubs includes:
- Midwifery
- Health Visiting
- Activities for 0-5s
- Infant feeding
- Mental health
- Youth services
- Debt and welfare
- Substance misuse support
- SEND support
- Relationship advice