Events

Supporting Families: Have we got what it takes?

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10 December 2009

In partnership with...

ipprsmall

Register and book online (preferred).

A4 booking form download (pdf).

Royal Society of Arts, 8 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6EZ

The past decade has seen a rapid growth in parenting and whole family interventions to tackle problems ranging from anti-social behaviour to youth offending. At the same time a greater emphasis has been placed on the role of government in responding to the needs of families more widely. A consultation on early intervention and a Families Green Paper from the Department for Children, Schools and Families will introduce the next stage in the government’s strategy later this year and the Conservative party is also expected to publish a Families Green Paper ahead of next year’s General Election.

Family support is increasingly being seen as a solution to tackling family breakdown and fragmented family networks. But what should the future be for this growing policy area and, with an election on the horizon, what are the ambitions of the two main political parties to strengthen families? What will the priorities be in a tighter funding climate and how should local authorities and service providers respond?

ippr is bringing together stakeholders from a range of sectors involved in supporting parents and families for a major one day conference to consider the future direction of policy in this area and to highlight some of the latest examples of innovative whole family support.

Download the full conference brochure (pdf).

Programme (Subject to change)

09.00	Registration and refreshments

10.00	Chair’s Introduction Lisa Harker, Co-Director, ippr

10.10	Keynote speech Department for Children, Schools, and Families representative (invited)

10.50	Refreshments

11.20	Panel Discussion: A decade of family and parenting support: where are we now? Yvonne Roberts, Senior Associate, the Young Foundation Martin Narey, Chief Executive, Barnardo’s Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive, 4Children Graham Allen MP

12.10	Panel Discussion: Local priorities for family support Ivana La Valle, Director of Research, Evidence and Evaluation, National Children’s Bureau Cllr Brian Connell, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Family Policy, Westminster Council Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive, Centrepoint

13.00	Lunch and networking

	The format of afternoon sessions will be short presentations followed by discussion.

14.00	Getting It Right: supporting the most excluded Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive, Addaction Debbie Scott, Chief Executive, Tomorrow’s People Nick Lawrence, Deputy Director - Head of Families at Risk, Department of Children’s, Schools and Families

15.00	Panel Discussion: Getting it right: public services and professionals Kathy Evans, Director of Policy, Children England Elaine Simpson, Managing Director, Serco Education & Children's Services Hugh Thornbery, Strategic Director of Children's Services - England North, Action for Children

16.00	The Conservative Perspective David Willetts MP, Shadow Minister for Universities and Skills followed by Q&A

16.40	Chair’s closing remarks Lisa Harker, Co-Director, ippr

16.45	Close

Delegate fees

Online booking coming soon; register your interest with events@ippr.org.

	Early booking Received by 20 November	Standard rate Received after 20 November
Supported rate: voluntary organisations, trade unions, Friends of ippr	£150 + VAT (£172.50 inc)	£175 + VAT (£201.25 inc)
Reduced rate: Local Authorities, public sector bodies, Central Government departments and agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies	£200 + VAT (£230.00 inc)	£250 + VAT (287.50 inc)
Full rate: Commercial sector	£275 + VAT (£316.25 inc)	£350 + VAT (£402.50 inc)

Register and book online.

Why should you attend?

Find out how a changed funding climate is likely to affect the future of family and parenting support in the UK
Hear analysis of the government’s early intervention consultation and a preview of the Families Green Paper to be published later this year
Listen to the latest Conservative Party thinking on family policy and policy proposals for change
Hear the most recent evidence on effective parenting and family support
Discuss how we can work towards a better balance between fire fighting and prevention in our public services for families
Debate whether the right local strategic groupings are in place to deliver effective family support
Learn how to create more accountable collaborations between frontline professionals
Find out about innovative whole family interventions for families with multiple problems
Question leading figures on how improved planning and commissioning can provide a more sustainable future for third sector initiatives to ensure life beyond pilots
Track the changing focus from in parenting and family support from anti-social behaviour towards tackling child poverty, mental health and substance misuse
Network with colleagues from different aspects of the debate to share good practice and influence policy developments.

Who should attend?

Local government
Councillors
Regeneration officers
Senior management: heads and directors of services
Social services: adult, children, education, family and mental health services
Voluntary sector organisations involved in the whole family agenda - children’s charities, homeless and substance misuse fields
Parenting and family support organisations
Youth Justice Board and Youth Offending Teams
Drug and alcohol support services
Probation and ex-offender officers and managers
Children’s centre practitioners
Civil servants and policymakers
Clinical psychologists
Connexions partnerships
Primary Care Trust / Mental Health Trust representatives
Regional Development Agencies
Trades unions
Education sector
Employment service providers
Academics and think tanks
Adult learning and skills providers
Media