North Somerset Council, Polaris Children’s Services, Bridges Fund Management and Outcomes for Children, have come together to deliver “Turning the Tide”. Turning the Tide is an innovative edge of care service, funded through a Social Impact Bond. The aim of the service is to reduce the need for children and young people to be looked after, by either working with families to keep children safely at home, or by keeping care placements short and reuniting children and young people with their families as soon as possible.

The service uses a strength based intensive multi modal intervention over a 12 or 18 week period which involves delivering practical support to the heart of the family in their own home. The support will equip children, young people and the families with the skills and coping mechanisms to reduce unwanted behaviour, increase positive family functioning and build their resilience.

Delivery is focused on helping families achieve key outcomes of improving school attendance, supporting children on the edge of care and reducing offending behaviour. Following the support,the service continues to monitor the success of the intervention with a focus on helping the family to sustain the changes through signposting to universal services, convening a Team around the family closure meeting and finally a family celebration to mark their success.