Children's services funding concerns as pilot ends

The project aimed to find new ways of working in order to cut the number of children in care

Children's services in Dorset could be facing a £3.5m shortfall with the ending of its pioneering of a national programme.

Dorset was one of three local authorities which received additional funding for piloting the Families First Pathfinder project which ended in March.

Although funding has been promised to continue the work, it has yet to be confirmed.

Corporate executive director of children's services, Paul Dempsey, said it was a concern not to know how much the county might receive.

He said he feared that the allocation of the national pot of funding, to be shared by all councils, might disadvantage rural areas, such as Dorset.

Dorset had also been taking part in national training and advising the government on its findings about the new ways of working.

They included seeking greater involvement of wider family, or family friends, when children face challenging times.

Paula Golding, corporate director for care and protection, told a meeting of the council's people and health overview committee that Dorset had seen a reduction of 22 in the number of children coming into care in 1924-25 as a result of the programme.

There had also been a decrease in the number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan.

She said there had been a better use of family group conferences and family network meetings with positive feedback from the families involved.

The extra funding had also allowed the recruitment of additional youth workers who, along with social workers, were playing a key role in identifying potential problems within families.

Dorchester councillor Stella Jones praised the county winning the bid to become a first wave Pathfinder – telling the committee that, as a result, Dorset children had benefitted ahead of other areas.

The Department for Education has been approached for comment.