A Families First engagement session.
Between June and July, 7 engagement sessions took place, both in person and online, covering areas including Arkwright, Buxton, Dronfield, Long Eaton and Riddings. To ensure as many families and carers as possible could take part, the programme offered a range of ways to get involved. Alongside the face-to-face sessions, online sessions were available for those unable to attend in person due to work, caring responsibilities, childcare arrangements or other commitments. A digital feedback form was also provided, allowing people to share their experiences and views at a time that suited them.
In total, almost 40 parents and carers took part, sharing valuable insights on topics such as accessing support, working with professionals, support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and how services can better meet the needs of families.
Parents and carers said they want support to be easier to access and understand, clearer communication from professionals, greater involvement in decisions affecting their families, and stronger, more consistent relationships with the people supporting them. Families also highlighted the importance of receiving help earlier and having better support available during key stages of their children's lives, particularly for those navigating SEND services.
These are exactly the kinds of challenges the Families First Partnership programme is designed to address. By bringing services together, improving how professionals work with families and providing earlier, more coordinated support, the programme aims to make it easier for children, young people and families to access the right help at the right time. The feedback gathered through these sessions will help ensure these improvements are shaped by the experiences and priorities of local families.
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Families Councillor Paul Maginnis said:
"Seeing parents and carers from across Derbyshire take the time to attend these sessions and share their experiences demonstrates how much families care about the support available in their communities and their desire to see services continue to improve.
"I would like to thank everyone who contributed. Their feedback has given us a clearer understanding of what's working well, where families are facing challenges and, most importantly, what good support looks like from a family's perspective.
"The Families First Partnership is about working with families, not making decisions for them. The insight we've gathered will help us shape services around the real needs of families and carers across Derbyshire and ensure support is easier to access, easier to understand and more responsive to the communities we serve."
Alongside this, the FFP continues to move from planning into delivery, with new ways of working now being trialled across both the Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) and Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPT) areas of the programme. Preparations are also progressing for Family Help test and learn activity, which is expected to launch later this year. Learning gathered through these phases will help shape the future FFP model ahead of the full countywide rollout planned for spring 2027.
Find out more about Derbyshire’s Families First Partnership.