Integrated Family Support Services (IFSS)

Background:

Integrated Family Support Service (IFSS) is helping some of the most vulnerable childrenand families in Wales. It is focussing on families where parents have substance misuse problems that impact on the welfare of their children.

The IFSS team (IFST) is a core team of highly skilled staff from various disciplines. When children are in need, and families are the tipping point, the IFST offers a crucial co-ordinated support the all family members. The IFST helps the family members to understand the impact of their behaviour; to recognise how it could be improved, and to take practical steps to make those changes.

IFST is highly prescribed service set out in the Children & Families (Wales) Measure 2010 and associated regulations[1], which requires local authorities and their LHB partners to work together to establish the service and provide support/services to the families.

Implementation timetable:

As part of the Welsh Government commitment for the phased implementation of IFSS across Wales, Newport, Wrexham and RCT/Merthyr have been operating IFSS since September 2010 as Phase 1 Pioneers.

Phase 2 was implemented during 2012/13 with the establishment of two IFSS consortia: one operating across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys; and one operating across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Since March 2012 IFSS has been operating across 10 local authority areas.

Roll out plans 2012/13 and beyond:

26 March 2012 saw the Deputy Minister for Children & Social Services announce of the roll out plan for IFSS across the whole of Wales by end of 2013. Phase 3 will be implemented during 2012/13 with the establishment of IFSS Teams across the Bridgend/Neath Port Talbot/ Swansea area, working as Western Bay Consortium. Phase 4 will be implemented during 2013/14 with the expansion of the IFSS in North Wales and Gwent. By 2014 there will be a minimum of 10 IFSS teams operating across Wales (see map attached).

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[1] Integrated Family Support Teams (Composition of Teams and Board Functions) 2012

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/2012/202

Integrated Family Support Teams (Prescribed Functions) Regulations 2012

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/2012/204

Integrated Family Support Teams (Review of Cases) Regulations 2012

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/2012/205