Supporting Vulnerable Families
Families facing hardship, isolation or difficult circumstances often want to be involved but need a different kind of invitation.
Who may be harder to reach
Vulnerability is not a fixed label. A family may be under pressure because of money, housing, ill health, caring responsibilities, or a recent change in circumstances. Some families have had difficult experiences with services and may be wary of new contact. Engagement works best when staff recognise these pressures and adjust the timing, place and manner of contact.
Starting from trust
Trust is built through reliability. Keeping appointments, explaining what will happen next, and being clear about what information is shared all help. Where a family has been let down before, a short and honest first conversation is often more effective than a detailed form.
A possible path into support
The steps below describe one way that contact can develop over time. Each family will move at its own pace, and not every step is needed.
Step one
Listen before planning
Begin with questions about what matters to the family this week, rather than about what the family lacks.
Step two
Agree a small first step
Choose one activity or contact that the family can manage, such as a short phone call or a visit to a familiar space.
Step three
Review together
Check what has helped and what has not, and let the family decide whether to continue, change or pause.
Practical barriers
Transport, childcare, digital access and the cost of attending can each stop a family from taking part. Offering support at home, using text reminders where a family prefers them, and covering basic costs can remove obstacles that would otherwise be mistaken for lack of interest.
Check with each family before sharing information with another agency. Consent and privacy should be discussed in plain language at the start of any new contact.
Different settings, shared principles
Engagement looks different in a school, a children's centre, a health setting or a family home. The images below show three of these settings.
Further reading on this theme
The pages below look at barriers, local resources and learning at home in more detail.