A mum from Barrow has opened up about how council help has relieved the pressure on her family.
The Westmorland and Furness Family Help Strategy sets out the council’s ambitions for the next four years.
It describes how the local authority aims to provide help and support for families at the earliest opportunity, while promoting positive outcomes for children and families.
Mum Rebecca has been working with Kay Perie, a Targeted Family Help Worker, who has provided support for her and her four children.
Rebecca said: "For my children Kay's been an essential part of my daily life for support, especially with my daughter who has just recently been permanently excluded.
"So Kay has helped with setting boundaries, signposting different services that I could try - she's also attended school meetings with me, governors meetings and medical appointments."
The council has adopted the phrase 'Family Help' to encompass Early Help, Early Intervention and Prevention, with the new Family Help offer implementing a partnership model of delivery.
This includes Health partners, Police, Education, Local Authority, Voluntary and Community sectors working together to identify needs within families as early as possible.
Rebecca added: "Because I've obviously struggled with stress - Kay was essential in helping me get through that sort of thing.
"My son is now getting the support that he should have got, and that's thanks to Kay asking the right questions in Early Helps, making phone calls behind the scenes."
Through the new scheme, schools like Cartmel Priory are now getting enhanced help to support pupils, their families and the school staff.
Alan Coulston, the Assistant Headteacher, said: "Our aim as a school is obviously to get the best outcomes we can for our students and families.
"Over this last year, with the increased resource of our Early Help officer and the with the introduction of the Designated Safeguarding Lead supervisor, we've been able to do that quicker and more effectively."
You can find out more information about the support services on offer from Westmorland and Furness Council by visiting the website here.
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