Problem families targeted

OLDHAM Council has signed up to the Government’s bid to deal with problem families — but will have to find millions to fund the programme at a time when it is having to make massive cuts and savings.

The Government has pledged to change the lives of 120,000 problem households by 2015, including 680 across Oldham.

These include families who are involved in crime, have jobless parents or children playing truant.

Troubled households are estimated to cost the taxpayer £75,000 every year in terms of child protection, and dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour, meaning the cost to the public purse could reach £51 million in Oldham alone.

Under the payment-by-results scheme, Oldham could be paid a total of £2.26 million by tackling problem families and will also receive a £300,000 co-ordinator allocation. Councils are in line to be paid up to £4,000 for every problem household they tackle but the money will cover only 40 per cent of the cost, with local authorities having to fund the remaining 60 per cent of the average £10,000 bill for a successful family intervention.

The Government has taken £448 million from Whitehall departmental budgets over three years to help pay for a network of people who will identify families in need of help, make sure they get access to the right services and ensure that action is taken.