Children’s locality support and safeguarding service

When families are experiencing complex or multiple problems they may benefit from the support of a family worker.

This person can spend time with a family getting to understand their needs. Then they work with other professionals and any other support networks the family have, to make sure the family gets the help they need.

Our family workers can meet a family at home or in the community.  They will consider the needs of each family member and work with the whole family to plan out the kind of support they would like to access and how to achieve this.

Family workers can support families, children, or young people who need help because they are:

• excluded from school or having difficulties engaging with education
• affected by domestic abuse or parental conflict
• demonstrating risk-taking behaviour
• affected by substance misuse
• affected by poor mental health
• having problems with family relationships
• facing financial problems
• having difficulty maintaining boundaries and expectations within the home
• at risk of exploitation
• living in a home environment which negatively impacts the health of a child

Our children's locality support and safeguarding service works in small teams of family workers and social workers around Buckinghamshire.  They know the communities well and can help families find local services and support.

You can ask for help for a family if you are:

1. a family member, asking for your family
2. a member of the public, asking for a family you know
3. a professional*, asking on behalf of a family you work with

* Professionals should refer to Buckinghamshire's Continuum of Need.