July 2026 - newsletter - Families First Partnership programme

What is the Families First Partnership Programme?

The Families First Partnership Programme is a major government initiative to transform how children and families receive support in England. The main goal is to help more families stay together safely and help children thrive. We will do this by providing early, joined-up, and family-focused support to prevent crises and improve long-term outcomes.

We aim to achieve;

• Right help at the right time ​
• Families tell their story once with one single assessment​
• Improved integration of support with the Team Around the Family​
• Increased family network support with the Family Group Decision Making service​
• The workforce is equipped and effective supported by a Multi Agency Child Protection Team​
• Families experience of services is more positive ​
• Children and families stay together ​
• Children and young people are safe in and outside of their homes

Introduction to our Partners:

Meet Laura, Families First Health Transformation Lead

I’m Laura Charlton, the Health Lead for the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP) in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. My background is in midwifery, health visiting and children’s services and I currently work within Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

My role within FFPP is to help strengthen collaboration between health services and partner agencies, ensuring that health perspectives and expertise are fully integrated into the development of Family Help, MACPT and wider partnership working. I’m particularly passionate about improving joined-up working across services, building strong relationships, and helping to create systems that better support children, young people and families.

I’m looking forward to working alongside colleagues across the partnership as the programme develops locally

Families First Website:

Please visit our Families First website for updates and resources.

Please start visiting it regularly as we will be adding more information as things move forward. https://families.stoke.gov.uk/familyfirst

Q&A sessions are continuing:

Q&A sessions are continuing across the next few months. Please see the dates for these below. If you would like the link to join a session, please contact familiesfirst@stoke.gov.uk

• Wednesday 22nd July 1-2pm
• Friday 7th August 1-2pm
• Wednesday 19th August 1-2pm

Have your say on what the Single Assessment looks like:

If you want to ask families or children for their thoughts, please do review the single assessment with them. Please do share in your organisation, any feedback will be greatly appreciated. This is just a first draft! Stoke-on-Trent Single Assessment DRAFT

This link is a Microsoft form of all the questions. In the response section you can comment on the question/wording. These responses will come back to us and be a great way to hear what you think!

Looking after your wellbeing:

Families First is an exciting and positive area of work, focused on improving outcomes for children and families. It brings opportunities to make a real difference and to support people in better ways. However, we also recognise that with any change can come uncertainty. It is natural for people to feel some anxiety or worry as new approaches are introduced, and we want to acknowledge and support colleagues and partners through this transition.

Please see below a range of resources that are available to help support your wellbeing. We encourage you to take time to look through what is on offer and use anything that may be helpful. If you feel you need additional support or would like to talk things through, please speak to your line manager, who will be able to offer guidance and help you access further support if needed.

• Resource to support anxiety, stress and resilience - Downloadable resources - Mental Health UK
• Every mind Matters for coping with change How to deal with change and uncertainty - Every Mind Matters - NHS
• Stress and anxiety resource - Mental Health Support
• A visual around exercises to practice Person/Care de-escalation tool

Thank you for reading this newsletter. If you have any suggestions for future newsletters, please email familiesfirst@stoke.gov.uk