Legal News

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced new plans to help workless families break the cycle of disadvantage.

New analysis shows children in workless families are almost twice as likely not to reach the expected level at all stages of their education and three- quarters of children from families where no one works fail to reach the expected level at GCSE, compared with around half of children in lower-income working families.

An estimated 300,000 workless families are potentially affected by conflict between parents and research suggests that children’s emotional, behavioural and educational success are strongly influenced by their parents’ relationship.

Children whose parents are in long-term, unresolved conflict with one another – whether or not their parents are together – are less likely to do well in school and in adulthood.

A child is also more likely to do well if they have a close, supportive relationship with their father – and this is made more difficult when separated parents are in conflict.

Only half of children in separated families see their non-resident parent every two weeks or more.

The government has announced a new programme to help address one of these root causes of disadvantage. Bbacked by £30 million in funding it aims to help parents resolve conflict and improve children’s chances of succeeding in life.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Damian Green, said:

“I don’t want any child to be defined by the circumstances of their birth – every child should benefit from a strong relationship between their parents, whether they are together or separated.

“Today marks the start of new support to help families overcome the problems they face, to make sure that every child can go as far as their talents will take them.”

The new support announced today by the government aims to change the way local services are delivered to support struggling families – and to help address the range of problems that workless families face, the government is setting out details of the next phase of the Troubled Families Programme, including more emphasis on helping parents into work.

The government says it has already made substantial progress in this area – the number of children in workless households is down by 590,000 since 2010.

In 2014 to 2015, one in eight UK children were in families where no one was in work.

As recommended by Dame Carol Black in her independent review into the impact on employment outcomes of drug or alcohol addiction and obesity, proposals announced on Tuesday include a trial of the Individual and Placement Support approach to help people addicted to drugs and alcohol back into employment – and a new network of peer mentors to act as trusted role.

Models for people with drugs and alcohol dependencies will be introduced, to help them back into employment – and there will be an expansion of the Access to Work fund, to provide people with drugs and alcohol dependencies with the support they need to enter or stay in work.

Duncan Lewis Family Lawyers

Duncan Lewis children lawyers can advise parents on a wide range of child care law and family matters, including parents’ duties under the Education Act 1996 and SEND.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on Section 38 enquiries, pre-proceedings meetings, children taken into Local Authority care and Court of Protection cases.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and Duncan Lewis advises on family and child care matters under UK law and Islamic law, as well as being able to advise on cross-border family issues, such as child care arrangements, leave to remove and international parent-child abduction.

For expert legal advice on family and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis children lawyers on 0333 772 0409.