We are expanding the range of support to children in Devon and their families, in line with national Government guidance.
Since the late 1990s, targeted family support has been available through a network of Children’s Centres in Devon.
That’s changing. We are now expanding our services to provide a combination of targeted support as well as universal support that is available to all families in Devon.
These new services are being delivered through a network of Family Hubs.
The key differences between our former Children’s Centres and our new Family Hubs, and why Family Hubs will benefit all families in Devon, are:
- Unlike Children’s Centres, Family Hubs don’t require people to be referred to them by professionals. They’re open to everyone. They’ll work with communities to provide a range of information and guidance to all, as well linking with targeted support for young people and their families who need particular support
- Children’s Centres used to support families of children aged zero to eight years old, but Family Hubs offer support to all families of children aged zero to 19, or up to 25 years old for young people with special educational needs or disabilities
- Family Hubs will bring together and consist of existing care and support providers in local communities, so there will be a wider range of help and advice available to families.
What’s happened so far with this transition?
Devon County Council decided last year to develop a network of Family Hubs across Devon. Since then there have been a series of consultations and public events held across the county to help us to understand what children and families value most about the services.
More recently, we have consulted with families and professionals about the buildings we have used as Children’s Centres in order to propose a new structure for our Family Hubs network.
Our online consultation ran for 8 weeks and we held 16 in-person events throughout May and June in towns across the county. We had a lot of feedback to our recent consultation, and that has helped us make important decisions. You can read the detailed feedback to our consultation in a report that our Cabinet Members have discussed.
What have our Cabinet Members decided?
Our Cabinet Members have now met to discuss the results of that feedback, and agreed a structure based around having nine main Family Hubs; 14 further outreach spaces; and potentially 15 additional outreach sites, yet to be identified, to provide support to the Family Hubs network.
Of the 27 current Children’s Centre buildings, 13 will become part of the Family Hubs network and 14 will continue to be used to provide family support, such as childcare, and services that support families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
This is what Cabinet Members have decided:
Torridge and North Devon
- Main hubs in Bideford and Ilfracombe (to be achieved within Phase 1**) and Barnstaple (to be achieved within Phase 2**).
- Outreach spaces will be in: Barnstaple (Sticklepath and Central)
- Alternative outreach sites to be identified in Torrington, Holsworthy, South Molton, Braunton, Lynton and Lynmouth (to be achieved within Phase 2**)
South and West Devon
- Main hubs in Newton Abbot and Totnes (to be achieved within Phase 1**) and Tavistock and/or Okehampton (to be achieved within Phase 2**).
- Outreach spaces will be in:
- Teignmouth Hospital*
- Moors Edge*
- South Brent*
- Hatherleigh* (*to be achieved within Phase 1**)
- Dartmouth (to be identified within Phase 2**).
Mid and East Devon
- Main hubs in Tiverton and Cranbrook (to be achieved within Phase 1**).
- Outreach spaces will be in:
- Two moors*
- Wilcombe*
- Crediton*
- Axminster* (*to be achieved within Phase 1**)
- Alternative outreach sites to be identified in Cullompton, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Sidmouth and Exmouth (to be achieved within Phase 2**).
Exeter
- Main hub proposed in Whipton (to be achieved within Phase 2)
- Outreach spaces will be in:
- Chestnut (Burnthouse Lane)*
- Flying Start (Civic Centre)* for short term whilst alternative is secured
- Westexe* – linked to Public Health Nursing delivery (*to be achieved within Phase 1**)
- Alternative outreach sites to be identified in Central, Beacon Heath, Pinhoe, Exminster, Exwick, (to be achieved within Phase 2**)
**Phase 1 projects are to be completed by January 2025; and Phase 2 proposed projects are to be completed by April 2025 in co-production with communities.
Action for Children
We have commissioned Action for Children to deliver family support in Devon for many years. Action for Children is currently commissioned by us to help with the transition to Family Hubs.
Our contract with Action for Children will come to an end in March 2025.
Our Cabinet Members have agreed to continue with the expansion of Family Hubs, but for the service to be provided by the council from April 2025, when our contract with Action for Children comes to an end.
That means that we and Action for Children will be talking to each other over coming months to bring staff who deliver the current services into the council, with the aim that there is limited disruption to the services received.
Action for Children will continue to help us with the transition until our contract with them expires in March 2025. Until then, please continue to use their website for information and advice and to arrange contact with their support staff. Devon Family Hubs – Action for Children
We will endeavour to keep this webpage updated with progress as we continue to develop our Family Hubs network.
If you have any questions about the development of Family Hubs, please feel free to email them to us at childrenscommissioningsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk .
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