The new model of practice – Our City, Our Children, Together – has been co-produced by staff and young people and will see the council and its partners working in a holistic way that focuses on relationships and long-term wellbeing underpinned by strengths-based support.

At the heart of Our City, Our Children, Together will be Family Safeguarding. This model of safeguarding is already used by over 20 local authorities in England and brings a whole-family approach that not only ensures the safety of vulnerable children but also works to keep families together and to support long-term safety.

As well as social workers, Family Safeguarding brings together the right services at the right time to offer families the support they need. The council will be recruiting new colleagues with experience in substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse who will give support alongside other partner agencies.

Family Safeguarding, also known as the Hertfordshire Model after the local authority that pioneered the approach in 2015, is widely favoured by social care professionals as it supports families to make sustainable change.

One of the approach’s cornerstones is a technique called motivational interviewing which means that professionals work on an equal footing with families, identifying their strengths and giving them power to make positive changes.

The model was launched in Liverpool with an event at St George’s Hall with speakers including Steph Atalla from the Centre for Family Safeguarding, Angela Frazer-Wicks, chair of the Family Rights Group, Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for England, and Alisdair Cant, a specialist in motivational interviewing.

Local authorities using Family Safeguarding see significant reductions in the number of children taken into care as well as those needing a Child Protection Plan, sometimes seeing figures halved. In Hertfordshire, the council saved an estimated £220m over the first decade of the model’s implementation.

Liverpool currently has over 1,400 looked-after children and young people.

Introducing Family Safeguarding to Liverpool is an important step on the council’s improvement journey in children’s social care and follows the introduction to Liverpool of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court earlier this month.

Bringing the model to Liverpool will support Pillar 4 of the Council Plan – Healthier lives for children and adults.

Cllr Liz Parsons, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for Children’s Social Services, said:

“The introduction of the new model of practice marks the end of a huge project for teams across the Children and Young People’s services and the start of a truly transformational way of working for Liverpool’s families

“Our City, Our Children, Together will mean that more families are kept together so they feel empowered to thrive and overcome challenges.

“In particular, we know from other local authorities that have introduced Family Safeguarding that it works; it works because social workers and other professionals understand its value and have seen in action the profound effect it has on children, young people and their parents. This is not only good for families but it is good for Liverpool as a whole.”

Steph Atalla, practice lead, Centre for Family Safeguarding, said:

“It’s fantastic that Family Safeguarding is coming to Liverpool. There are some fantastic practitioners and leaders in the city and I know that they really want to focus on reducing the in-care population and the number of children on a Child Protection Plan and this model is proven to do that.

“It’s now in 24 local authorities and is having a significant impact so I know that it will be just as successful here in Liverpool and I’m really excited to see where it goes – good luck Liverpool!”