Halton Family Hubs
Healthwatch Halton were approached by Halton’s Family Hubs to carry out engagement with people using Halton Family Hubs and Children’s Centres, to gather their experiences, and also to speak with people who haven’t used the service to find out some of the reasons why.
What we found
- 65% of people who have used family hubs felt they had an increased amount of confidence in themselves as parents.
- 94% of people who have used family hubs felt the staff were supportive of them.
- 82% of people who have used family hubs saw them as valuable for their family.
- 44% of people who have used family hubs felt the hubs were known about by other local families.
- 85% of people believed family hubs would benefit their family by offering a wider range of services.
- 85% of people who have used family hubs would recommend them to friends and family.
- 47% of people who took part in our survey hadn’t used a Family Hub
- The hubs were seen by many as only providing support for families with very young children.
Summary
One principle of a Family Hub is ‘Superb provision for children’s early years (0-5) so their families get whatever help they need to give them the best start in life and ensure they are school-ready.’
In many ways the Hubs are already meeting this aim, but there is room for improvement if the Hubs are to ‘ensure families with children and young people aged 0-19 receive early help to overcome a range of difficulties and build stronger relationships.'
If the aim is to provide services across the 0 to 19 age range there needs to be consideration as to how the Hubs are promoted across the borough, as currently many people see the Hubs as only providing services and activities for parents with very young children.
- It is clear that Halton Family Hubs provide a range of services and support that is generally appreciated and well valued by those who currently use the hubs.
- The current services and activities appear to be very much focussed on supporting parents with children in the 0 to 5 age group.
- There were requests from parents with children aged between 3 and 5 to see more activities focussed on this age group, as many felt there was a gap in this area.
- Feedback from people who haven’t yet used the hubs suggested a lack of awareness of the hubs and in particular the activities and services that are available and who they are targeted at.
- Feedback from the focus group session with the parent and toddler group also pointed to a lack of awareness of the hubs, yet this group met weekly in a venue located less than 50 metres away from a Hub.
- As previously highlighted, the key message from all the potential users of the Hubs, was to be kept informed about what is on offer at the hubs.
I find it a great place to bring my young son and meet other mums and children. This morning when I told my son we were going to see the other babies at the centre, he was so excited he got his backpack ready at 7.00am!
Recommendations
- Consider offering a wider range of age-appropriate activities at the Hubs aimed at older children and young people.
- Work in partnership with SEN parents to offer more SEN specific support and activities.
- Work in partnership with young people’s groups and organisations to ensure the Family Hubs provide activities that meet their needs.
- Engagement. There were requests from the focus groups we spoke with for closer links with the Family Hubs. Consider a role for an engagement / link worker to build and develop links across the borough with these and other community groups and organisations supporting families in Halton.
- Use a wider range of age-appropriate images when producing communication materials, i.e. Leaflets, posters, timetables. The current range of images were seen to be very baby and toddler centric.
- Consider offering low-level mental health and wellbeing support services for young people through the Family Hubs.
- Communicate and inform. Continue to make good use of social media to promote the Family Hubs and look to develop and maintain a standalone website for the Family Hubs to provide information on all services and activities available through the hub.
