An innovative approach is helping support families and improve outcomes for children and parents.
South Lanarkshire’s Family Support Hubs are multi-disciplinary teams that provide whole family support to babies, children, young people and their families across South Lanarkshire.
They offer a wide range of different types of support including individual or family support, support during or after pregnancy, peer support, family group decision making, parenting support groups, therapeutic interventions, outdoor activities and advice and information.
The hubs are based at four accessible locations across South Lanarkshire – Cambuslang, East Kilbride, Hamilton and Lanark.
A recent ‘Celebrating Success’ event held locally brought together staff, partners and organisations to reflect on the progress made so far. Attendees shared first-hand accounts of the real-life difference the hubs have made, and reaffirmed their collective commitment to ongoing learning and continuous improvement.
In the year to September 2024, 75% of new referrals to Children and Families Social Work were supported through the Family Support Hubs — a 14% increase from the previous year. In total, 6,562 allocations for family support were made to Hub Social Workers across South Lanarkshire during this period.
Chair of the council’s Social Work Resources Committee, Councillor Margaret Walker, said: “The Family Support Hubs are now well established and are playing a key role in ensuring children, young people and their families get the help and support they need in what can be very challenging circumstances.
“Feedback from everyone using this service has been very positive and it has been great to see the growing national recognition of the impact of this innovative approach.”
Parents have spoken powerfully about the difference the Hubs have made to their lives, including during a recent visit by the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes MSP, to the Hamilton service.
One said: “You were there at the right time when I needed someone to talk to and you have helped me get the right support for him, thank you so much.”
Another added: “The support helped me to improve mine and my children’s situation, not only their environment but overall wellbeing too. My perception of Social Work has changed as a result.”
Sharon Grant, Family Support Hubs Service Manager, Children and Families, said: “The Family Support Hubs have been instrumental in is transforming the way families access support, helping them tackle challenges before they escalate and improving outcomes for children and parents alike.
“This has helped us achieve outstanding results in family support and well-being.”
Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Our Family Support Hubs are a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together across services and sectors with a shared commitment to improving the lives of children and families.
“My thanks to all of our staff and partners for the professionalism, compassion and creativity that they continue to bring to our important work here, and also to the families that we are supporting by embracing new approaches to care.”
Find out more about the Family Support Hubs in this video here.
Picture caption: (from left to right) Sharon Grant, Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Danielle Sarr and Professor Soumen Sengupta.
