The Family First Partnership (FFP) Programme
Families First Partnership in Blackpool – Building a Stronger Future for Children and Families
Blackpool is delivering an ambitious transformation of family support through the national Families First Partnership (FFP) programme. This reform is reshaping how local services work together so children, young people and families receive the right help at the right time.
Backed by significant government investment, Blackpool’s approach brings together early help, child in need and child protection into one seamless system called Family Help. This new way of working focuses on earlier support, stronger relationships and coordinated multi-agency responses, reducing the need for crisis intervention and helping more children to grow up safely within their families and communities.
At the heart of the work in Blackpool is:
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Family Help Lead Practitioners – a single, trusted professional who builds long-term relationships and coordinates support for each family.
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Multi-disciplinary Family Help Teams – bringing together social workers, family support workers, health, education, police safeguarding professionals, youth services, and specialist partners to wrap support around whole families.
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Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs) – dedicated expert teams who work with Family Help to make timely, informed decisions when children may be at risk of significant harm.
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Family Group Decision Making – ensuring families and wider networks are empowered to create their own plans and solutions, especially when concerns escalate.
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A stronger role for schools, health, and community organisations – recognising early identification and support happens best where trusted relationships already exist.
Blackpool’s FFP programme is being designed to make support easier to access, more joined-up, and centred on the needs and strengths of families. This whole-system reform aims to reduce the number of children needing to enter care, strengthen family networks, and improve outcomes for children across the town.
Together, Blackpool’s partners are building a more preventative, compassionate and effective system of help and protection—one that gives every child the best possible start in life.
Families First 7 Minute Briefing