Across the country, there is a shared national ambition: to support families to stay together wherever it is safe and right for the child. This vision is reflected in the Family First approach, the Care Review, and the new Family Help model, which focuses on providing early, joined-up, relationship-based support to families before problems escalate.
In Blackpool, the Family Hubs are leading an innovative initiative to bring this vision to life. We spoke to Lisa Burgess about the experience of delivering Triple P for Baby in the area. She explained how the programme provides crucial support to parents of infants on the edge of care, helping them build strong, nurturing foundations for their babies while developing the confidence and resilience needed to manage the daily challenges of parenting. The programme also seeks to strengthen parent–child relationships, giving families the best chance of staying together safely.
Across England, pressure on the family justice system is rising. Between April and July 2025, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) received 4,209 new public law cases involving 6,885 children, including 4,209 Section 31 care applications, a 9.8% increase compared to the same period last year. This surge places significant strain on resources, increases workloads for social workers and legal professionals, and stretches budgets, potentially affecting service quality.
Behind these statistics are families in crisis and babies at risk of growing up away from their parents. Evidence shows that children thrive when they can remain with their birth families, provided it is safe to do so. Lisa highlighted that in Blackpool, Triple P for Baby is offered at the critical point during the 26-week court process, giving parents the support they need to demonstrate their capacity to provide safe, nurturing care, increasing the likelihood of the child remaining with their parents.
Unlike many parenting programmes, the initiative in Blackpool can be delivered even when parents do not currently have their baby in their care, allowing them to develop essential skills and strategies before final care decisions are made.
Parents are referred through Blackpool’s Family Hubs after social workers confirm suitability. They then receive tailored sessions within the 26-week court timeframe, helping them demonstrate change and readiness ahead of critical hearings.
Practitioners in Blackpool have noted that parents who undertook the programme are better equipped, families receive support earlier, and babies have a stronger chance of staying safely with their birth parents. By investing in evidence-based programmes like this, the Family Hub empowers parents to make positive changes that help them care safely for their children - supporting families to stay together wherever possible, which is not only better for children but also far more cost-effective than long-term care.
Practitioners in Blackpool have seen that Triple P for Baby supports families across three critical areas:
Parenting skills - Practical, evidence-based strategies help parents respond effectively to their baby’s needs, build secure attachments, and gain confidence in their role.
Parental mental health - The programme provides support for managing postnatal depression, stress, and anxiety, helping parents care for themselves while caring for their child.
Social and family support - The programme helps parents build a network of peers and facilitators, reducing isolation and encouraging sustainable positive change. It also promotes stronger partner, family, and community relationships, encouraging practical cooperation such as sharing household tasks and caregiving duties.
By addressing these areas together, parents develop confidence, resilience, and the ability to nurture their child in a safe and stable home.
Practitioners in Blackpool reported that parents who completed Triple P for Baby leave with greater confidence, a deeper understanding of their baby’s needs, and practical tools they can use at home. Parents themselves describe the impact in their own words:
“The section on post-natal depression was really useful. Other programmes don’t
cover that, but this one did.”
“I liked all the tips and tricks. It’s a good little programme.”
Over the past two cohorts, seven parents have completed the programme, giving themselves the best chance to make lasting, positive changes and keep their children safely within their family.
In Blackpool, Triple P for Baby is more than just a parenting programme; it is a lifeline at the moment families need it most. By equipping parents with practical skills, boosting their mental health, and surrounding them with support, the Family Hub is helping parents create the conditions for their babies to thrive at home.
In a system under immense strain, Blackpool’s use of Triple P for Baby demonstrates that with the right support at the right time, parents on the edge of care can turn things around, and babies can grow up in the safe, loving families they deserve.
To find out more about how Triple P can help you or if you want to discuss the needs in your area, please contact one of our team.