Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, supported and able to thrive, and Nottingham City Council is investing in a new specialist service that will work alongside parents to help create stronger families and improve outcomes for children.
The Parental Support Service will support parents who have previously been involved in care proceedings to build on their strengths, improve their wellbeing and create safer, more stable family lives. This will increase the opportunity for any future children to grow up safely within their families.
The council has approved £900,000 of Public Health funding over five years towards the new service, recognising the important role that targeted support can play in improving wellbeing, strengthening families and creating lasting change.
Parents will receive tailored, relationship-based support that recognises their individual circumstances, strengths and aspirations. The service will work with mothers, fathers and other parents or carers where appropriate, helping them to access support, strengthen relationships and make changes that matter to them and their families.
The service builds on learning from previous work in Nottingham and will form part of the council’s wider approach to prevention and early intervention. By providing support at a critical point in families’ lives, the council aims to help address challenges earlier, strengthen family networks and reduce the need for more intensive support in the future.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Children’s and Young People, said: “We know the devastating impact that children being taken into care can have on families, and we are determined to do more to break the cycle of repeat care proceedings.
“This investment is about giving parents the support they need to address the challenges that contributed to their children being removed from their care, helping them build healthier, more stable futures.
“By intervening earlier and providing targeted support, we can improve outcomes for children and families, reduce trauma and create lasting positive change. This is an important investment in prevention that will benefit families today while helping to reduce future pressures on the care system.”
The council will procure the service through an open tender process, with an initial contract term of three years and the option to extend for a further two years.
The investment forms part of Nottingham’s wider commitment to prevention, strengthening families and improving long-term outcomes for children and young people.