An A2 leaflet setting out key elements that well-structured Families Information Services should have in place. This is a companion document to Planning to Inform. It has been produced by Opportunity Links' FIS Development Project on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

1. managed FIS.
Service
Families
supporting families.
Information
the needs of parents and families.
service for parents. However, well-
structured FIS can also contribute to
Section 12 of the Childcare Act 2006
requires LA to provide an information
areas, as well as playing a wider role in
Planning to deliver
additional strategic priorities and policy
how FIS can work together with partner
teams and services to contribute to local
and sets out the key elements that should
be included within the structure of a well-
UPLOADS OF DATA ON SERVICES
A linked document in the ‘Making Change
deliver. They demonstrate how FIS delivery
The diagram over the page draws together
the requirements from each of these areas,
links with broader service provision to meet
out the key audiences to which effective FIS
The table beside and the diagram below set
and national priorities, strategies and plans.
Happen’ series, Planning to Inform, explores
How FIS delivery supports families
DATA ON DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES
officers
Audience
TRAINING IN FIS DELIVERY AND ACCESS TO FIS DATA
information,
Direct users of
Strategic leads
responsible for
commissioners,
developing and
children, young
sufficiency leads
and safeguarding
including parents,
and young people
delivering services
including childcare
and youth services
for children, young
people and parents
including parenting
people and families
for parents, children
INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Integrates data with
PKHD Aggregator
services in other areas
sources of support and
information on national
for families
planning and
Strategic leads
Data used to inform
development of services
with families
Front line services
information to:
point of contact for FIS
equipped to act as rst
Partners in contact
with disabilities
to the age of 20
delivery channels
register provision
Required outcomes
to safeguarding team
planning and delivery
and in different formats
Service Providers
develop their services
children, young people
Providers of services for
and parents register and
development opportunities
• Information and support which
to inform joint aims and delivery
Providers of services • Details of all services for parents,
• Information available via national
• Information which can be accessed
children and young people held by
needs of all in the local community
• User friendly services, reflecting the
• Childcare providers on training and
easily, from a choice of local locations
of service provision to inform ongoing
• Development of high quality provision
services, such as the Parent Know How
• Identification of demand versus supply
addresses the specific needs of parents
• Potential service providers on how to
parents, children and young people up
• Concerns about child welfare escalated
supported through delivery of accurate
• Knowledge and data held by FIS shared
with disabilities and parents of children
• High quality information on services for
the FIS able to be publicised through all
Directory delivery channels and DirectGov
need
providers
INFORMATION, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE: TELEPHONE, BROKERAGE, OUTREACH, DROP-IN, PUBLICATIONS, LOCAL WEBSITE
(including online)
delivery channels
Service requirements
h
wi
t
INFORMATION ON ALL NATIONAL AND LOCAL SERVICES ACCESSIBLE ONLINE
relating to child welfare
ACCESS TO INFORMATION VIA TRAINED INTERMEDIARIES
information and support
chi
• Maintaining and providing
• Provision of data feeds to the
• Direct delivery of high quality
SERVICE PROVISION SHAPED TO MEET NEEDS OF LOCAL FAMILIES
HIGH QUALITY SERVICE PROVISION FOR FAMILIES
• Awareness raising across service
information on services for 0-20
information on registration and
governments Parent Know How
being publicised via all channels
• Clear routes to escalate concerns
to deliver high quality, consistent
highlight gaps in service provision
• Equipping relevant intermediaries
Families
l d re n a g e d
• Stats and reporting to inform joint
delivery, progress against plans and
Directory to enable access via wider
providers of benefits of information
0-
• Collating and managing high quality
formats and via outlets to meet local
information, advice and assistance in
2
0
development opportunities for service
FIS Development Project TOOLS Planning to deliver
FIS Development Project
TOOLS
Checklist
¸ Can you provide measurable evidence of how you are meeting the
requirements of Section 12?
Making change happen
¸ Does the structure of your FIS provide clear arrangements for governance
and strategy; information management and delivery; and partnership Planning to deliver
working and communications?
¸ Is the FIS included in local strategic plans such as the Children and Young
People’s Plan and the Parenting Strategy? Do the FIS goals and targets link Introduction Section 12 of the Childcare Act
directly to the LA’s strategic priorities?
2006 requires local authorities
Section 12 of the Childcare Act 2006 came
¸ Have you got a clear understanding of the needs of families in your local (LA) to provide information on all
into effect in April 2008 and extended
community? Are you implementing a plan to ensure that the information local authorities’ (LA) legal duty to deliver services, facilities and publications
service is accessible to all families and provides information and support to information, advice and assistance to parents. In
response, LA have been required to: which are likely to be of benefit
meet their needs?
• Expand the breadth of information they hold to parents, prospective parents,
¸ data on both supply and demand for services systematically collected by
Is to cover all services, facilities and publications children or young people up to the
the FIS and fed through to strategic leads to inform planning and delivery of that may be of benefit to parents of children
aged 0-20
age of 20 in their area. LA generally
services for parents and families?
• Extend the level of assistance they offer, to
meet this duty through provision of
¸ Is the FIS working with all relevant local partners who provide information or
provide expert advice and guidance on