Thomas Bridge 04 April 2014

Troubled families targets could be missed, MPs warn

Government departments could miss targets for ‘turning around’ 120,000 troubled families by 2015 unless efforts are accelerated, a panel of MPs has said.

While applauding the commitment of both the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and Department for Work and Pension (DWP) to supporting disadvantaged families, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) called for ‘essential’ improvements to performance.

DCLG and DWP introduced separate programmes to support so-called ‘troubled families’ in 2012, respectively aiming to ‘turn around’ 120,000 families and move 22% of those associated with the programme into employment by March 2015.

However, chair of the PAC Margeret Hodge today branded the decision to run two separate schemes as ‘baffling’ – warning the move had resulted in ‘confusion and unnecessary duplication’.

The committee said DCLG still had 98,000 families to ‘turn around’ by next year, while DWP had achieved only 720 sustained employment outcomes by September 2013.

‘Both departments have got to speed up the rate at which they are succeeding in their work,’ Hodge said.

She added that both departments’ ‘reliance on individual local authorities and private providers’ had ‘put achieving the programmes’ objectives at risk’.

Responding to the PAC report, a Government spokesperson said: ‘The Troubled Families programme is on track and having a big impact on some of the hardest to help families in the country. This report acknowledges that the programme was three per cent ahead of the committee’s own expectations at the end of last year, with over 22,000 families turned around in just 18 months’.

‘But there is always more to do and we expect performance to improve even more over the next year.

‘Together, these programmes provide value for money for the taxpayer through payment by results, which is better for taxpayers and those we are supporting on the programme.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner