Buckinghamshire Families First

We are improving the way we work with children, young people and families in Buckinghamshire. We want to make support easier to access, better connected, and shaped around what families need.

Our focus is simple: to make it easier for families to get the support that makes a difference, at the time it will help the most, in a way that feels right for them.

Families First is a national programme designed to bring professionals together to ensure children and their families receive clear, joined‑up support.

In Buckinghamshire, this means our intention is for staff from schools, health services, the police and the council to work closer as one connected team. This will reduce the need for families to repeat their story and improve their experience of seeking help.

Families First aims to:

• support families earlier
• help keep children safe
• involve families in shaping plans that work for them
• strengthen family and community networks
• focus on solutions before challenges become more serious

We are using these principles to guide four key areas of work.

Our intention is for families to access support earlier and in a more coordinated way.

Different services may become involved at different times. Through Families First, we want to bring professionals together so families experience a single, connected offer of help. These may include professionals such as:

• Family Support Workers
• Social workers
• Health and mental health practitioners
• Domestic abuse specialists
• Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) specialists
• Youth workers

By working side by side, we aim to reduce hand‑offs, clearly understand families’ needs, and make sure people feel listened to and supported. We will continue to shape Family Help in Buckinghamshire based on what families tell us about their experiences and feedback.

We want to help children to remain connected to people who know and care about them.

To support this, we are strengthening our approach to helping families build and sustain their own support networks by:

• involving wider family members and other important adults as early as possible
• making sure families clearly understand any concerns
• supporting families to create their own plans to keep children safe
• using approaches such as Family Group Decision Making at the right time

Our goal is for children to stay connected to their family and community, wherever it is safe and positive to do so.

When there are concerns about a child’s safety, we want professionals to work closely, confidently, and consistently together.

A key part of these reforms is the introduction of Multi‑Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs). These teams bring together one dedicated team of experienced professionals from:

• children’s social care
• health
• the police
• education

The national reforms aim to ensure that:

• families get clearer information about what professionals are worried about and what needs to happen next.
• important decisions include the right people, especially those who know the child and family best.
• agencies share information more effectively, helping reduce delays and confusion.
• plans to keep children safe are joined‑up, with one team leading the process instead of several agencies working separately.
• parents and carers get better support to take part, including improved access to advice and help during child protection meetings.

This approach will help families feel informed, included and supported throughout the child protection process, while ensuring children receive the protection they need.

This work is not about following a fixed national model. It is about choosing approaches that best meet the needs of families in Buckinghamshire.

We will strengthen how organisations across Buckinghamshire work together to keep children safe. By improving how we share information, families will receive support more quickly and in a more joined‑up way.

Schools are a key part of this, and we will continue to work closely with them to help children and their families get the right support at the right time.

Positive developments are underway. By strengthening partnerships and making support more connected and easier to access, we want to ensure children and families in Buckinghamshire receive effective, joined-up help and support when they need it most.