LIVERPOOL: £1m nannies to sort out yobs

£1m nannies to sort out yobs

PROBLEM families in Liverpool are being targeted in a £1.2m scheme that will see a “supernanny” go into their homes.

Loutish parents and unruly children can be the bane of people’s lives.

Now, to help them and their neighbours, the council has teamed up with the children’s charity NCH to offer them one-to-one assistance.

In the past, bad tenants would simply be evicted.

Through this four-year scheme, council chiefs say, they hope to get to the root cause of anti-social behaviour and prevent families from losing their homes – rather than just moving them on.

The helpers teach parents how to discipline their children – much like TV’s Supernanny.

But that is only one aspect of their role.

Those assigned to problem families look at their entire lives and act accordingly.

This could be getting the family into a proper routine and teaching them how to make a nutritious meal, to taking parents or the children to the doctors.

Similar schemes have already been launched in Wirral and Knowsley and there are others across the country.

The project costs around £300,000 in taxpayers’ money a year, but those behind it say the savings long-term far outweigh the initial layout.

They also say research has shown this approach can turn anti-social behaviour around in eight out of 10 cases.

Deputy director of Children’s Services for NCH North West, Carol Iddon, said: “If you have to rehouse, it costs money. Children could go into care.

“If we get this right we can save up to £200,000 per family.”

The scheme has been commissioned by Liverpool council as part of the RESPECT agenda – which targets anti-social behaviour.

The NCH team is seven strong with five dealing directly with families.

Around 30 families will be helped at any one time.

A panel will decide who would benefit.

People are referred to the service by landlords, the police or the council, or they can refer themselves.

Only those at risk of eviction through anti-social behaviour can take part.

If families refuse, the eviction process goes ahead.

Ms Iddon added: “Families have deep-rooted problems and don’t want to be living the way they are.

“They need support, not punishment.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/10/11/1m-nannies-to-sort-out-yobs-100252-19931250/