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Councillors have given the green light to proposals setting out what Devon’s new Family Hub network of services will look like.
Much of it will utilise former Children’s Centre buildings already familiar to families, as well as additional locations in local communities.
The decision to develop a network of Family Hubs across the county was taken by the council last year.
Today’s decision by the Cabinet, following a lot of public engagement and consultation with families and professionals who work with families, is about the future use of the 27 former Children’s Centre buildings as part of the new Family Hubs network.
The proposals have since been revised to reflect the feedback, with Councillors asked to agree proposals for 9 main Family Hubs, 14 outreach spaces, and potentially 15 additional outreach sites yet to be identified to provide support to the Family Hubs network.
Of the 27 current Children’s Centre buildings, 13 will be become part of the Family Hubs network and 14 will be used to provide family support, such as childcare, and services that support families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
A breakdown of the proposed hub locations is below.
The transition from Children’s Centres into Family Hubs offering a broader range of support to a wider age group of children and their families, accessible to all without a need for professional referral, was generally welcomed by parents and professionals, consultation results show.
While most districts agreed with the proposals, where they did not, concerns focused on access to support specifically in Tavistock, Barnstaple, Holsworthy and Whipton, Exeter.
The majority of responses in Mid Devon, East Devon, Torridge, South Hams and Teignmouth, generally supported the consultation proposals.
Across the county, feedback was mainly positive about extending the age range of children and young people supported through Family Hubs, and about increasing the scope so that parents could seek support directly from a Family Hub rather than needing to be referred by a professional.
Professionals who work with families were also positive about extending the scope to include universal support that families could access without referrals, stating that demand is there for this type of support.
And equally, the range of support available to families is important. Parents spoke positively of centres where facilities provided opportunities for local groups, such as ‘stay and play’, as well as the need for space for private conversations.
Concerns were expressed, if some local centres were to move, about distances to travel especially for families reliant on public transport.
And ‘Step by Step’ groups were mentioned frequently and positively in feedback for their support to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents, and the importance for these groups to maintain suitable spaces.
Councillors were also asked today to consider who will run the Family Hubs after the current contract with the charity, Action for Children, expires in March 2025.
Action for Children has delivered Children’s Centre services on behalf of the county council since 2017 and it is currently contracted to help the transition between Children’s Centres and Family Hubs.
Councillors were given three options:
- to allow the current contract to expire next March and not continue with the development or expansion of Family Hubs
- to tender for a new contract, which all potential service providers could bid for, including Action for Children
- or to continue with the expansion of the services but to take the delivery of it in-house, with relevant Action for Children staff involved with the services becoming subject to TUPE, (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)
Councillors agreed the latter, to take the delivery of the service in-house with relevant Action for Children staff potentially transferring to the council.
South and West Devon:
Main hubs in Newton Abbot and Totnes (to be achieved within Phase 1**) and Tavistock and/or Okehampton (to be achieved within Phase 2**).
Outreach spaces will be in:
- Teignmouth Hospital*
- Moors Edge*
- South Brent*
- Hatherleigh*
(*all to be achieved within Phase 1**)
- Dartmouth (to be identified within Phase 2**).
Mid and East Devon:
Main hubs in Tiverton and Cranbrook (to be achieved within Phase 1**).
Outreach spaces will be in:
- Two moors*
- Wilcombe*
- Crediton*
- Axminster*
(*to be achieve within Phase 1**)
Alternative outreach sites to be identified in Cullompton, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Sidmouth and Exmouth (to be achieved within Phase 2**).
Exeter:
Main hub proposed in Whipton (to be achieved within Phase 2)
Outreach spaces will be in:
- Chestnut (Burnthouse Lane)*
- Flying Start (Civic Centre)* for short term whilst alternative is secured
- Westexe* – linked to Public Health Nursing delivery
(*all to be achieved within Phase 1**)
Alternative outreach sites to be identified in Central, Beacon Heath, Pinhoe, Exminster, Exwick, (to be achieved within Phase 2**)
**Phase 1 projects are to be completed by January 2025; and Phase 2 proposed projects are to be completed by April 2025 in co-production with communities.