Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION
Background
The family support project
The two authorities
2 METHODS
Sampling procedure
Study design
Outcome measures
Response
3 FINDINGS: THE FAMILIES AT FIRST INTERVIEW
Demographic and socio-economic characteristics
Problems experienced by the families
The service response: services arranged for families
Well-being at the start of the study
4 FINDINGS: OUTCOMES AFTER THREE MONTHS
Social, economic and demographic change
Well-being after three months
Social worker assessment at the three-month follow-up
Social worker assessment a year later
Child protection and children accommodated
Families’ experiences of services
Reasons for non take-up of services
5 COSTS AND OUTCOMES
Use of services
Unit costs of services
Total costs of services
Costs and outcomes
6 DISCUSSION
Key findings
The role of day care in supporting families
Poverty and economic deprivation
The importance of an inter-agency response
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Accessible support
Best value
Applying cost-effectiveness analysis to social welfare programmes
CONCLUSION
APPENDICES
1 Sampling criteria
2 Family Problems Questionnaire
3 Response rate
4 Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the interview sample
5 Composite indicators of social disadvantage and vulnerability
6 Family problems
7 The service response
8 Social worker interview at start of study
9 Well-being of respondents at first and second interviews
10 Circumstances of families at second interview
11 Respondents’ experience of services
12 Social worker follow-up interview after three months
13 Service use and costs

About the Author

At the time of publication, Sally Holtermann was an Independent Consultant and Research Associate in the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London. At the time of publication, Gill Winter was a Sure Start co-ordinator for the Conwy Sue programme.