Families First in Cheshire East
At Cheshire East, we’re proud to be leading the implementation of the national Families First reforms, helping to create a stronger, more connected system of support for our children, young people and families.
This transformation is about more than changing services – it’s about changing lives. By bringing professionals together and focusing on relationships, prevention and early intervention, we’re ensuring families can access the right support at the right time, without having to navigate multiple services on their own.
Putting children and Families First
Families First is a national programme designed to transform how support is provided to children and families. The approach places children’s voices at the centre of decision-making and creates a seamless experience for families, helping them access support before challenges escalate into crises.
For families, this means:
- Easier access to help and support
- More joined-up services and professionals working together
- Stronger relationships with practitioners
- Earlier intervention to prevent issues from escalating
- A personalised approach that adapts to changing needs
As we embed Families First across Cheshire East, we’re creating exciting opportunities for people who are passionate about making a difference.
The programme aims to:
- Transform the support and protection system for children and families
- Ensure every family can access the right help at the right time
- Strengthen early intervention and prevention services
- Build relationship-based practice across agencies
- Keep children’s voices at the heart of all decisions
All local authorities will implement the Families First reforms from April 2026, and Cheshire East is already making significant progress on this journey.
First Programme Director
Where are we on our journey?
We recently welcomed colleagues and partners to a series of Families First locality induction events, bringing together professionals from children’s services, health, education and community organisations.
These sessions have helped build strong local networks, deepen understanding of community needs and strengthen partnerships across services.
We’re investing in our people to ensure they have the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in this new way of working.
A comprehensive Families First training programme is currently being developed, alongside new policies, procedures and practice guidance. This will equip practitioners with the tools they need to deliver high-quality, relationship-based support and play a key role in shaping the future of services across Cheshire East.
With excellent schools, strong transport connections, and a high quality of life, it’s easy to see why so many people choose to build their future here.
