Child Care Solicitors

The City of Wolverhampton Council is calling for comments on a consultation on children’s services due to end on 15 February.

The council has put forward a series of proposals designed to improve early intervention and help prevent family breakdown, to ultimately reduce the number of children having to be taken into care.

The proposals involve eight new Strengthening Families Hubs established across Wolverhampton, with teams operating from them to offer help and advice on a range of issues – including parenting support, family mediation and relationship counselling, child development and play and behaviour management.

The council says that the teams will focus on children of all ages, rather than as two separate age groups as is currently the case – enabling them to take a "whole family" approach.

There will also be greater emphasis on providing help and support in the family home, rather than solely from the new hubs and their associated outreach bases around the city.

The proposals also seek to build on the work that is already taking place through the council's transformation programme. This places greater emphasis on tackling problems within the family unit and offering support at an earlier stage – with the ultimate aim of fewer children being removed from their families.

City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Councillor Val Gibson, said:

“It's really important that families and other stakeholders have their say over these proposals because we need existing and potential service users to help us design children's services which are going to help them.

“Their views count and will help us shape a service which will help transform young people's lives for the better.

“We are committed to doing all we can to ensure that children are able to grow up safely and happily with their families – and we want to build on the excellent work taking place across the city to support children and families in need by making best use of the resources available to us.”

A short survey on the proposals is available at Surveys.

The City of Wolverhampton Council says that more than 300 people have so far become involved in the consultation process by attending one of a series of consultation meetings or by completing the short online survey – the council is asking that anyone else who wishes to comment on the proposals should to do so in the next few weeks by completing the survey.

Duncan Lewis Children Lawyers

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of specialist child care lawyers able to advise on family and child care law under UK law and Islamic law, including:

• Adoption & international adoption
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• Family mediation services
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There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid lawyers.

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