We are seeking the views of local families to have their say on a new way of working to bring together health, social care, education and more to help families get the right support at the right time.

The Families First Partnership Programme is a national initiative to help improve children’s social care across England. It encourages services to work together and take a more joined-up, family-focused approach to early help and child protection.

The programme focuses on:

• Giving the right Family Help at the right time
• Creating Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs)
• Using Family Group Decision Making to involve families in planning

Sefton Families First Partnership is about creating stronger families and brighter futures. In Sefton, our goal is to work together with families, schools, health, police, and community groups so families get help early and feel supported, making sure every family feels:

• Listened to
• Understood
• Supported

Leader of the Council, Cllr Marion Atkinson said: “We know that families often have to repeat their story to lots of different services. That can be frustrating and tiring. The Families First Partnership changes aim to help fix this.

“The programme is based on the Working Together to Safeguard Children framework, and its aim is to make sure children and families get the support they need, when they need it.

“We want to hear from children, young people, families and professionals to help us shape our offer. There are a range of surveys available, so please look at which is most suitable for you and help us build something fantastic.

“The surveys can all be completed online or by dropping into one of our Family Hubs where support is available.

“I strongly encourage everyone to have their say before the surveys close at the end of the month.”

Throughout the summer the Council’s Children’s Transformation Team has been actively engaging and promoting the uptake of surveys within the community and have received lots of valuable ideas and suggestions from over 100 families.  

The team also hosted a number of roadshow sessions with professionals to gather their insights.

How to Take Part

• Online: Visit the Council’s website and choose the survey the most appropriate survey.
• Paper Copy: Download, print, and complete the survey. People can return it to any Sefton library, leisure centre, or town hall.
• In Person: Drop into any of the Council’s Family Hubs to speak with a team member, ask questions, and get help filling out the survey.

Surveys close on 26 September 2025, so don't delay. Have your say!

For more details about the Families First Partnership, and to stay up to date regarding future sessions people can visit the Sefton Families First page