Service launched to cut number of children in care

A total of 87 young people are currently in care on the Isle of Man

A new service will provide "immediate intensive support" for families to reduce the number of children taken into care, the Isle of Man's lead social worker has said.

The Edge of Care initiative, sees professionals work with families to avoid children entering care or help them to return home where possible.

Julie Gibney said the scheme, funded via Manx Care's existing budgets, would offer the "right intensity of intervention to make a difference at a time of crisis".

There are currently 87 young people in the island's care system, living in residential and foster placements.

The service, which was launched formally on Wednesday after being trialled for 12 months, brings together the health care provider's children’s services and partner agencies, including care charity St Christopher's.

Family and parenting support and therapeutic intervention could be offered from the police, the multi-agency safeguarding hub and child and adolescent mental health services teams, the supporting families team and initial response team, in a bid to resolve disputes or issues.

'Good track record'

Ms Gibney, who is assistant director of children and families social work, said families needed interventions for a range of reasons including relationship break-downs between parent and child, concerns over exploitation or criminality, or due to parental mental health or substance abuse issues.

She said Manx Care had "always had an assessment process" but the new initiative was "an intensive piece of work so we can respond immediately" and offer continued support over a 12-week period.

Chief executive of St Christopher’s Jonathan Whalley said said the initiative would also save money as the cost of the care system was "high".

During the pilot there had been "a good track record" of children returning home quickly or not entering care after receiving support, he said.

Double Olympian Fatima Whitbread joined the launch as part of Fatima’s UK Campaign, which aims to ensure looked after children are "seen, heard and valued".

Ms Whitbread spent the first 14 years of her life in children's homes after being abandoned as a baby, and promotes collaboration across organisations to help families stay together.

She said she had met "wonderful people" from the Manx partnership, such as nurses and social workers, who were a "close knit team doing immensely good work" but pointed out the scheme would need continued support from the government to succeed in future.