Respect Task Force
Lambeth work with the Respect Task Force to delivered programmes to combat anti-social behaviour within the borough. The Respect drive is a cross-Government strategy aimed at helping to create a modern culture of respect by addressing behavioural issues in the community.
What does this mean for Lambeth?
Lambeth has been chosen from a long list of areas with significant challenges, where more action is needed. As a Respect area, we have made a commitment to go even faster and further in tackling anti-social behaviour and its cause. Respect areas have earned the right to be examples of the Respect programme by their strong track record in tackling anti-social behaviour and a willingness and capacity to do even more.
As a Respect area we have signed up to providing:
- Family intervention projects that work intensively to challenge and change the behaviour of the most problematic households
- Parenting programmes for families at risk/or behaving anti-socially
- Face the People sessions where the Police, local authorities and others can be accountable to their local public
- Keep up the relentless action to tackle anti-social behaviour by using the full range of tools and powers available
- Promoting the Respect Housing Management Standard to ensure a consistent, responsive service from landlords for all social housing tenants
Funding is available to back this drive with the Department for Education and Skills making £6 million available in 2007-2008 to enable Respect Areas to invest in parenting provision to tackle and prevent anti-social behaviour.
Purpose of new funding
The Respect Task Force is providing funding to 77 target areas to support parenting provision linked to Anti-Social Behaviour Teams. Up to £50,000 per authority will be provided in 2007-08.
What are these new practitioners actually going to do?
The funding will be used to employ practitioners who would be able to deliver structured parenting programmes to the parents of families exhibiting anti-social behaviour or at risk of doing so. They will be more likely to work with parents in group sessions lasting 8-13 weeks although one to one work may be needed in cases where parents who attend this voluntarily as well as parents on parenting orders.
They should work to increase the awareness of practitioners in anti-social behaviour teams about the value of referring to parenting provision. For example they might regularly discuss cases or check case files to ensure that colleagues are using this provision in all cases where it might be beneficial.
We are also keen that these practitioners work to improve links between anti-social behaviour teams and other services providing parenting support (for example, health services, Children's Services and new parenting provision linked to Family Intervention Projects) and also contribute to strategic planning and commissioning of parenting services.
To find out more call the Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator on 020 7926 1164.