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🧭 What is the Families First for Children Pathfinder Programme?

The Families First for Children Pathfinder is a new way of helping families to get the right support at the right time.

It’s being tested in some areas of England to see how things can work better for children, parents, and carers. These areas are called Pathfinders – they are like test zones to try out new ideas.

Wirral is one of the Pathfinder areas chosen to test new ways of supporting families.

It’s all about trying new ideas to make services work better and faster for children, parents, and carers.

We want families to get the right help at the right time – before problems grow bigger.

What’s the aim?

To make it easier for families to get help early – before things get worse.

Sometimes families may need support with things like:

• Parenting challenges

• School worries

• Health and wellbeing

• Money or housing problems

• Family relationships

The programme looks at how schools, local councils, social workers, health services and local charities can work better together to improve each families experience.

The new ideas being tested in Pathfinder areas include:

• Family Help Teams: professionals who work with the whole family, not just one person.

• Better information sharing between services

• More support before things become serious – so fewer families need to go through long, stressful assessments

• Listening more to children and families when planning support

What will change?

Here’s what you will see as part of the Families First Pathfinder in Wirral:

✅ Family Help Teams – a small team of trusted workers who support your whole family. Further information about those teams can be found on the following links:

• • Wirral Family Matters team 

  • Wirral Early Help Advisors

  • Social Work in School team

✅ Earlier help – so you don’t have to wait for things to get worse
✅ Less form-filling – fewer assessments and more time for real support
✅ You and your children will have more say – your voice matters in decisions. You can find out more information about the support and groups running to ensure families have the opportunity to provide thoughts and views
✅ More joined-up working – schools, health, social care and local charities working as one

Why does it matter?

Wirral wants to be a place where every child feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.

This programme is all about making things easier, not harder.
Support should feel friendly, simple, and helpful – and that’s what the Pathfinder is trying to build.

You’ll still be able to find support through things like:

• School staff

• Health visitors

• Local community groups

• This Family Toolbox website – with advice, events, and services