Keeping families together safely
Our vision in Reading
Together, we will work as one team in Reading to support our children and young people to live free from fear and harm. We we will help them be safe, feel confident and be healthy. We will help them achieve their potential and have a sense of belonging.
Trusting relationships matter. We commit to understanding the unique experiences and identities of our children and their families, shaping our help and support in response.
Working together
Shared understanding and coordinated planning means faster and more effective support for families at key moments. The Family Safeguarding approach strengthens how children’s services connect with local partners including:
- health services
- schools
- early years providers
- voluntary agencies
- police
- community safety teams
- adult services
What is Family Safeguarding?
A whole-family approach
Family safeguarding focuses on the strengths of the family unit so children can remain safely at home wherever possible, and families receive coordinated help tailored to their needs.
Specialist support
It brings together specialist professionals including domestic abuse practitioners, adult mental health workers, and drug and alcohol workers. They will collaborate with children’s services as a unified team, keeping families actively involved in the decisions that directly affect them.
This approach brings the right support, early intervention and shared planning to help families make positive changes that last.
More information
Click the headings below for details of the Family Safeguarding model and how it works.
We know that when families experience challenges such as domestic abuse, mental health difficulties, substance use, or parenting pressures, children can be affected and families can feel overwhelmed.
Using the family safeguarding approach, we can:
- build on families’ strengths
- bring specialists together into one team
- focus on meaningful and lasting change
- help keep children safely at home wherever possible
- protect and build relationships so that families’ experiences and perspectives are well understood
It also supports a relational approach, with explicit commitment from professionals to understanding the culture and diverse needs of families.
By working this way, we can support families earlier, reduce repeat crisis situations and improve long lasting outcomes for both children and adults.
Family Safeguarding looks at the whole picture to include the wellbeing of every member of the family.
We do not focus on one issue by itself, but as part of the whole picture for the family.
Professionals will work together to understand how challenges connect and how the family can be best supported.
Multi-disciplinary support team
Reading’s Family Safeguarding model brings together specialists who work alongside children’s social workers to provide coordinated support in the areas that most affect families. These include:
- Domestic abuse practitioners – supporting safety planning and recovery
- Mental health specialists – working with parents and carers to support wellbeing
- Substance misuse advisors – helping families address drug or alcohol challenges
- Family support workers – supporting parenting and daily life needs
- Social workers – coordinating overall support and planning.
Together, this team ensures families receive the right type of help at the right time.
Family Safeguarding uses an approach called motivational interviewing.
This means workers listen with respect, focus on family strengths, help people set goals that matter to them, and support change at a pace families can sustain.
This approach builds confidence through collaborative conversations and supports long-term positive outcomes.
Families and practitioners use a shared planning tool that brings goals, progress and next steps all together in one place. This reduces any need for repetition with each support worker, improves communication and means everyone is working towards the same outcomes.
Our aim is to support families before problems escalate and to work collaboratively wherever it is safe to do so.
Family Safeguarding may be considered when:
- there are concerns about the safety or wellbeing of children
- the family would benefit from coordinated, strengths-based support
- adult challenges such as mental health or substance use are affecting family life
- earlier help has not been sufficient.
We work with families with dignity and respect, recognising that every family is different. If you are working with Family Safeguarding in Reading, you can expect:
- practitioners who listen and respect your family’s story
- a team of specialists working together to support you
- clear plans with shared goals
- support focused on strengths and lasting change
- professionals who explain decisions and progress clearly
Family Safeguarding - a guide for young people
Do you work with young people?
We’ve put together a short guide to help them understand the Family Safeguarding model.
Click below to open the PDF, or click the image on the right.
