First local authority Social Impact Bond, addressing issue of children in care
Big Society Capital has committed to invest £825,000 into Essex Social Impact Bond alongside seven other investors to raise a total of £3.1 million. This is the first local authority commissioned Social Impact Bond.
Essex County Council awarded the contract to Social Finance to deliver a Social Impact Bond to provide therapeutic support to adolescents at risk of going into care. Adolescents remain the single largest age group within looked after children in the UK.
The five year programme will provide intensive support to approximately 380 adolescents and their families. The intensive intervention will target 11-16 year olds at the edge of entering care or custody so that the young people can safely remain at home with their families. The programme will involve Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), an evidence-based programme with a 30 year track record, which delivers family therapy in the home by highly qualified therapists. It focuses on improving parenting and rebuilding positive relationships so that families can manage future crisis situations, delivering long term and sustained impact. The MST interventions will be delivered by Action For Children a UK national charity.
The programme aims to reduce the number of days spent in care by the adolescents as well as improved school attendance, wellbeing and reduced offending.
Outcomes:
Education, Learning and Skills
- Strengthened family communication and relationships
- Increased parental involvement and support in children’s learning
- Improved social and emotional skills
- Improved attainment and academic success
Personal and social well-being
- Improved family relations child well-being
Beneficiaries:
- Individuals
- Families & Children