Department for Education visits Best Start Family Hub – Graiseley to see family reforms in action

Officials from the Department for Education visited Wolverhampton's Best Start Family Hub in Graiseley to observe the city's work as one of the country's first Families First for Children Pathfinder authorities.

The delegation included representatives from NHS England, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Work and Pensions. They met frontline practitioners and service leaders to explore how Wolverhampton's services work together to support children and families.

Multi-agency approach

Visitors learned about the city's Multi Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT) and Families Working Together approach. These programmes aim to strengthen family networks and deliver early support to families in need.

The visit included discussions on multi-agency child protection practice, integrated family support, partnership working with health services, and the role of Best Start Family Hubs in providing accessible, coordinated support for local families.

The delegation heard from practitioners about how multi-agency teams work together to safeguard children, support families and improve decision-making. They also explored how Family Network Support Packages help families build on their own strengths and relationships, enabling children to remain safely connected to their wider family and community networks.

Council response

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "We are delighted to welcome colleagues from the Department for Education and our national partners to Wolverhampton. This visit is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the dedication of our practitioners and partners, who work tirelessly to support children and families across the city."

Alison Hinds, Executive Director of Families at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "The visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate how partners across Wolverhampton are working together to deliver meaningful change for families. Through our Family Hub model, Families Working Together programme and Multi Agency Child Protection Team, we are creating stronger, more connected services that place children and families at the centre of everything we do."