Leader’s Blog: Early help, prevention, and being there for children and families

This month, I’ve been reminded, very powerfully, that some of the most important work we do as a council doesn’t always happen in committee rooms or on the front page. It happens in quiet conversations with families, in schools and neighbourhood spaces, in joined‑up support behind the scenes, and in the day‑to‑day commitment of people who show up for children when they need it most.

That’s why I wanted this edition to focus on people. On prevention. And on the support that helps children and families stay safe, stay well and stay together wherever possible.

Recently, I’ve been involved in filming linked to Cradle to Career in North Birkenhead —an approach that puts families and communities right at the heart of how we design and deliver support. Cradle to Career is a community‑based initiative that brings residents, professionals and leaders together to improve outcomes for children and young people, with a particular focus on improving life chances through shared, place‑based work. 

This initiative is a good example of the wider direction we’re committed to as a council; acting earlier, working more closely with partners, and making sure support is easier to access before issues become overwhelming. That is the real heart of early help and prevention.

When we talk about early help, we’re talking about practical, human support at the right time. The council’s early help offer is designed to provide support from pre‑birth through to 18, stepping in early either because of a child’s age or because an issue has started to emerge. It might be help with parenting, routines, behaviour, school attendance, emotional wellbeing, or simply feeling like things are getting on top of you. Early help is not about judgement. It’s about listening, building on strengths, and making sure families don’t have to carry challenges alone. 

Across Wirral, this approach shows up in different ways. One example is our growing network of Family Hubs, which bring a range of support for families and children into welcoming community settings. Family Hubs are designed to help families access support locally, and importantly you’re not restricted to one site as families can access support through any hub across Wirral. 

Alongside this, we also point families and professionals to practical, accessible resources, tools and guidance that help people find support sooner and feel more confident about where to turn. Our early help information highlights how these resources can reduce barriers and make it easier for families to access the help they need.

Of course, as much as early help is about supporting families to stay together and thrive, we also have a duty to act decisively when a child is not safe. Safeguarding will always be one of our most important responsibilities. And for a small number of children, the right decision, however difficult, may be that they cannot remain at home for a period of time.

This is where our role as a corporate parent matters. Children in care, often referred to as children looked after, may live with foster carers, with family or friends, or in a residential children’s home, depending on what is considered best for them at that time. The council’s role is to make sure children are safe and supported, and to work with families to develop the best plans for children. 

That is why the work of our Corporate Parenting Board is so important. Corporate parenting is the council’s shared responsibility - Members and officers - to do for children in our care what any good parent would do for their own child: to keep them safe, support their health and education, listen to them, celebrate them, and help them build a future filled with opportunity. 

I’m also mindful of this on a personal level, because fostering has been part of my life for many years. Fostering is demanding, it changes your home, your routines, and your family life. But it is also one of the most meaningful things a person can do. It is about providing stability, care and belonging at a time when a child may have experienced disruption, loss or uncertainty.

I’ve spoken publicly before about my own fostering experience, and the difference carers can make.

What I want to acknowledge this month is the work that often goes unnoticed: the work of our social workers, personal advisers, educators, health partners, residential teams, and the foster carers and kinship carers who open their homes and hearts every day. When we talk about children being “looked after”, it can sound like a technical phrase. In reality, it is a promise. It means a child deserves to feel safe, listened to and supported.

We are clear about the standards we hold ourselves to as corporate parents. We want children in our care and care‑experienced young people to have stable homes, the right support for their physical and emotional wellbeing, the best possible chances in education, and the encouragement to aim high. We also want them to be proud of who they are, to have strong relationships, and to feel confident about the future. 

Early help and corporate parenting are sometimes talked about separately, but I see them as part of the same story. Both are about stepping in at the right time, being consistent, and putting the child’s lived experience at the centre. Both are about building a system that is kinder, more joined up, and more focused on preventing harm rather than simply responding to it. 

There is still more to do, and the challenges facing children and families are real. But I also see huge commitment across Wirral. From professionals, from partners, and from residents who step forward to help. That is something we should recognise and be proud of.

If you are a parent or carer feeling under pressure, please know that early help is there to support you, and asking for help is a positive step. And, if you’ve ever considered fostering, I would encourage you to explore it. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be willing to offer care, stability and patience to a child who needs it. 

Because when we get this right, when we support families early, protect children when needed, and act as strong corporate parents, we help children not just to cope, but to grow. And that is work worth shining a light on.

Cllr Paula Basnett
Leader of Wirral Council