Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP)
The Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme is a national initiative led by the Department for Education (DfE) to transform how children and families are supported across England. It sets out expectations for safeguarding partners and aims to drive improvements in:
- Family Help – earlier, preventative support for families.
- Multi-agency child protection – better coordination across services.
- Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM) – empowering families to lead their own planning.
These reforms are part of the government’s Plan for Change, which seeks to give every child the best start in life by:
- tackling child poverty
- protecting children from abuse and harm
- breaking down barriers to opportunity through joined-up support
Why is Coventry implementing FFPP?
Coventry is participating in this national initiative as directed by the Department for Education to reform services with a statutory duty to safeguard children (Local Authority, Police, Health and Education), reflecting the city's ongoing commitment to improving support for families. The Families First Partnership Programme aligns with Coventry's priorities to:
- strengthen Early Help, providing families with support before issues escalate
- reduce escalation to statutory services by addressing needs earlier and more effectively
- improve multi-agency working, ensuring services collaborate for better outcomes
- deliver better outcomes for children and families across the city.
How will FFPP affect families?
Families will benefit from:
- a single point of contact, making it easier to access support
- fewer assessments and handovers, streamlining their experience with services
- support that is tailored, timely and coordinated according to their needs
- greater involvement in planning and decision-making, empowering families to shape their own support
- family decision-making will continue to be the heart of our offer, utilising the Coventry Families approach