Work carried out by social workers on behalf of the Council to support troubled families has been praised by the Government.

The Achieving for Children Social Care group launched Phase Two of its ‘Troubled Families programme in 2015.

Cllr Penny Frost, Richmond Council Chair of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “The success in turning around the lives of troubled families is a huge success story and demonstrates the effectiveness of tackling our big problems locally.

“It is also testament to the hard work of the Council, Achieving for Children, partner agencies and family members working together.”

Councils and local partner organisations worked together with families facing a multitude of problems including crime, anti-social behaviour, truancy, unemployment, mental health problems and domestic abuse.

Families received support from interventions which in turn helped to ‘turn their lives around’ in the form of helping children go back to school, tacking youth crime and anti-social behaviour, reducing high costs to families and helping adults back into work.

Families are supported using local interventions and to help ‘turn their lives around’.

This included getting children back into school, reducing youth crime and anti-social behaviour, putting adults on a path back into work and reducing the high costs these families place on the public purse.

Around 650 families in Richmond were highlighted by the government as being those that require detailed support over a five-year period.

And, a recent review revealed that 78 per cent of families in the borough were helped – placing Richmond at the top of the league table in the capital.

Cllr Frost concluded: “I am very proud of the fact that we have rolled up our sleeves to really try and help families who are going through a tough time.

“We are not done yet.

“We will continue to offer this vital support to local families and help them turn their lives around.”