Troubleshooters to be sent in to help problem families

David Cameron is to announce a £448m plan to identify and get help to the most troubled families in England. A network of "troubleshooters" will be given responsibility for locating and co-ordinating help for families facing multiple challenges such as addiction, crime, poor health and unemployment. Mr Cameron will call for "leadership at the top, action in councils and results on the ground" to tackle the problem. The government wants to turn around the lives of 120,000 families by 2015. The prime minister made the pledge in the aftermath of this summer's riots across England and he will return to the issue in a speech in Birmingham, fleshing out details of the government's strategy. Mr Cameron will announce funding for a group of troubleshooters, to be hired by councils and who will report progress to Louise Casey, the newly appointed head of the Troubled Families Team. The money for the initiative is being taken from other government budgets over a four-year period. Work wonders' Ministers are modelling their strategy on the family intervention project adopted by the last Labour government in which a single social worker is sent in to gain an overview of the problems facing a family and to recommend the best course of action. We need to provide leadership at the top, action in local authorities and results on the ground” End Quote David Cameron The prime minister will say this intensive approach can "work wonders" for families but social workers need help to get a foot in the door in the first place. As well as locating families in need of special help, the troubleshooters will ensure appropriate action is taken, organise local agency responses and liaise with officials at a national level. Making the case for the initiative, Mr Cameron will cite the case of a family blighted by problems whose behaviour was "transformed" after a mother acknowledged the scale of her difficulties and was able to get dedicated support. "When the front door opens and the worker goes in, they will see the family as a whole and get a plan of action together, agreed with the family," he will say. "This will often be basic, practical things that are the building blocks of an orderly home and a responsible life. These things do not always cost a lot but they make all the difference." Mr Cameron will "demand results" from councils in return for the extra cash and say troubleshooters will be paid by results - success determined by whether levels of crime and truancy fall in targeted areas. He is expected to reiterate his belief that supporting families must be at the heart of dealing with the UK's social problems, arguing "we need to provide leadership at the top, action in local authorities and results on the ground". Definition Ministers say families suffering problems such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, poverty and anti-social behaviour, are costing the state an estimated £9bn a year in terms of spending on the NHS, the police and social services. While the definition and number of troubled families has never been confirmed, a report last year by "family champion" Emma Harrison suggested there were 125,000 families which had never worked and from whom a lot of social problems stem. Under the government's measure, families need to meet five out of seven criteria based on social, economic and health problems to be classified as "troubled". Most support for families with multiple problems is now provided through local authorities, although sometimes contracted out to other organisations. However funding for early intervention grants has been cut by more than 10%. Speaking on Wednesday, Labour leader Ed Miliband said there was a place for initiatives like family intervention partnerships but a "bigger response" was needed to address the social problems highlighted by this summer's unrest in cities across England. Providing educational opportunities and jobs, and encouraging responsibility at all levels of society, was central to giving hope to families and communities, he said.