Dorset children's services could be facing £3.5m shortfall
It follows the termination of a pioneering national programme
Children's services in Dorset could be facing a £3.5million shortfall with the ending of its pioneering of a national programme.
The Families First Pathfinder pilot project, where Dorset was one of three first wave authorities to try out new ways of working, has now ended and with it, the Government additional funding.
Although funding has been promised to continue the work, it has yet to be confirmed.
Corporate executive director of children’s services, Paul Dempsey, said it was a concern not to know about how much the county might get – with a decision expected later in the year.
He said he feared that the allocation of the national ‘pot’ of funding, to be shared by all councils, might disadvantage rural areas, such as Dorset.
Paula Golding, corporate director for care and protection told a People & Health overview committee that not only had the county pioneered the Pathfinder programme it also acted as a guide and mentor for other authorities throughout the South West, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Part of the work had also involved Dorset taking part in national training and advising the Government on its findings about the new ways of working which seeks greater involvement of wider family, or even family friends, when children face challenging times.
Ms Golding told councillors that Dorset had seen a reduction of 22 in the number of children coming under its care in 24/25 as a result of the programme and had also experienced a decrease in the number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan; better timeliness of assessments and extra targeted help, often at an earlier stage than previously provided.
She said there had also been a better use of family group conferences and family network meetings with positive feedback from the families involved.
“These outcomes have contributed to our Ofsted rating for children’s services as ‘outstanding’ in March 2025 with Inspectors highlighting the effectiveness of the ‘families first’ model,” she said.
Dorchester councillor Stella Jones praised the county winning the bid to become a first wave Pathfinder – telling the committee that, as a result, Dorset children had benefitted ahead of other areas.
The meeting heard that the extra funding had also allowed the recruitment of additional youth workers who, along with social workers, were playing a key role in identifying potential problems within families.