Redbridge Pathfinder programme revolutionises support for vulnerable children
Published: 08 October 2026
More vulnerable children are receiving help sooner, families are getting support before problems reach crisis point, and professionals are working together more effectively to keep children safe.
One year after launching the Families First for Children Pathfinder programme, Redbridge is helping test and shape reforms that could influence the future of children's social care across the country. Early evidence shows a more joined-up approach is helping families access the right support at the right time, reducing the need for more intensive intervention later.
The changes have transformed how support is delivered. Instead of navigating multiple services, families now receive coordinated help built around their needs. Social workers, schools, health professionals, police and other partners work together, sharing information earlier and responding more quickly when concerns arise. Dedicated multi-agency child protection teams have also been established to strengthen safeguarding and ensure children receive the right protection when they need it.
The impact is being seen both in inspection findings and in the lives of local families. During a recent focused visit, Ofsted found that children and families in Redbridge receive "consistently helpful responses" and benefit from "swift, well-judged action when it matters most". Inspectors praised the strong partnership working across agencies and the way families can access help without delay.
The difference this makes can be seen in the experiences of local families. In one case, professionals worked intensively with a young expectant mother facing significant health and personal challenges, bringing together health services, advocacy and family support. The coordinated approach helped create a safer and more stable future for mother and baby, with ongoing support in place.
In another case, children's services, health professionals and family members worked together to support a pregnant woman experiencing severe mental ill health. By involving the wider family at an early stage, professionals were able to secure a safe arrangement for the baby while ensuring the mother's needs remained central to planning.
The Pathfinder programme has also driven innovation through Redbridge's specialist Pre and Post-Birth Service, which supports vulnerable parents through pregnancy and a child's first year of life. The service brings together health and social care professionals to provide intensive early support, helping families build the confidence and stability they need to thrive.
Redbridge's work is now helping inform national reforms, with learning from the programme being shared more widely across the sector. This builds on the borough's strong track record in children's services and its reputation for delivering high-quality support for children and families.
Councillor Lloyd Duddridge, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said, "Every child deserves to grow up safe, supported and able to thrive. Over the past year we have transformed the way services work together so that families receive help sooner and children are better protected when they need us most.
"What matters most is the difference this is making to children's lives. Families are receiving support earlier, professionals are working together more effectively and more children are getting the right help at the right time. We are proud to be helping shape reforms that have the potential to improve outcomes for children and families across the country."
