Barnet Homes launches new family support scheme

Families at risk of losing their council home due to problem behaviour will be given new intensive support to support their children and turn around their lives through a new scheme being launched by Barnet Homes.

Following a joint bid with Barnet Council, the north London Arms Length Management Organisation has been given £25,000 government funding to help pay for a new Family Intervention Worker to engage with residents on the borough’s estates.

It means that families who cause antisocial behaviour may be given Family Intervention Tenancies, requiring them both to comply with the conditions of their tenancy and engage with support services, or face possible eviction.

Barnet Homes hopes the new scheme will give children in these families a better start in life, including improvements to their school attendance and educational attainment.

Other benefits include:

• Reducing antisocial behaviour around Barnet Homes properties
• Helping parents into training or employment
• Improving neighbours’ quality of life

Barnet Homes’ Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “We are very pleased that the government has supported this initiative, which should lead to long-term benefits both to children and their parents.

“We work hard with the police to tackle antisocial behaviour on our estates, and we know that just one problem family can cause huge disruption for many other residents.

“But we see eviction as a last resort, particularly given the impact on children. We first want to engage with those families who are having difficulties and offer targeted help, while making clear the consequences of failing to accept this support.”

Barnet Homes will now seek to recruit the Family Intervention Worker, who will be based within Barnet Council’s Youth Offending Service and who will link with other agencies such as the police and health services during the programme of support.

The project will also be financially supported by the police and Barnet Council.