Contents

  1. What are Family Hubs?
  2. Find your nearest Family Hub
  3. Digital offer
  4. Getting support
  5. What we're doing to develop Family Hubs
  6. FAQs and useful links

On this page

Parent and carer engagement through Merton Family Voice (MFV)

Through the work of Merton Family Voices, we were able to embed a “Speak Up and Shape It!” approach. Many parents and carers have taken time to tell us how they want to experience help and support. This feedback has helped to shape the development of Family Hubs in Merton.

In 2024, we shared a ‘top ten insights’ gained from our first year of engagement activity. We are continuing to weave these reflections throughout our ongoing transformation.

Family Hub - top 10 insights - you said, we did!

We know that it is important to listen to children, families and young people in order to really understand their experiences and best meet needs. We will continue to explore ways to maintain our engagement approaches so that the voice of Merton’s families continues to be heard and influential in shared decision making!

Developing our shared vision and partnerships

We have included feedback from young people, parents, carers and lots of different partners in developing a ‘vision’ for Family Hubs in Merton, which has been captured in a picture. The ‘vision’ reflects the shared ways of working and principles that underpin our work with children, young people and their families through Merton Family Hubs.

merton family hub

You may see this image displayed in Family Hub buildings, network delivery locations and online communications. Please do get in touch if you are a current Family Hub delivery partner and would like to secure a copy of the vision for display in your organisation please email familyhubs@merton.go.uk.

Refurbishments and mini makeovers

We have dedicated capital funding to refresh some of the entrances and outdoor space at our Family Hubs. The bright Family Hub logo and signage is in place across our buildings and network delivery locations. We hope that families and young people are able to easily recognise these places in their local community as somewhere they can access information and support.

Work to develop a digital registration system

We continue to explore easier option to register for and take up Family Hub services. This forms part of our wider work in developing digital approaches and bringing services closer together to better understand and meet local need. We will keep you updated on progress in this area as new approaches unfold. 

Merton Family Hub Induction handbooks

Our new Merton Family Hub Induction handbooks are designed for practitioners working as part of the Family Hub workforce. They can be accessed here: Family Hub - Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership (mertonscp.org.uk)

The purpose of these handbooks is:

  • To provide a simplified overview of Family Hubs, building a shared understanding of the approach and services included within the offer.​​
  • To help practitioners in Merton to develop the skills, knowledge and values needed to work together in supporting families and the importance of their roles. ​
  • To promote the approach to 'whole-family’ working through trauma-informed and relationship-based practices.   ​

Bitesize overview sessions

We are working to bring 24 ‘core’ services together through Family Hubs. Programmes of support and intervention are being coordinated across these service areas. We have developed a suite of 24 ‘bitesize overview modules’ with each one providing helpful information about the local service offer available to families. These modules can be accessed via the MSCP website.  They can be reviewed by parents/carers, community members and Family Hub practitioners who may wish to learn more about a particular need or issue.

We hope that partners will use these bitesize modules to support staff induction, to promote ongoing learning and as a tool of reference and to enable ‘whole family working’.

Lunch and Learn

Virtual Family Hub ‘lunch and learn’ sessions have taken place monthly, helping the Family Hub workforce to become more familiar with support available to families across all areas of need. These sessions have also been recorded for sharing with colleagues who were unable to attend.  If you, your team or service has missed any of these sessions and you would like to watch the recordings please email familyhubs@merton.gov.uk. A link will be sent to you.

These hugely successful sessions will continue into 2025, supporting practitioners to become more confident in signposting families to the right support at the right time.  To sign up for these please email familyhubs@merton.gov.uk.

(Please note lunch and learn sessions are for Family Hub Partners only and not currently available for families to access)..

Lunch and Learn Timetable

Date and timeService/topic and presenters
Wednesday 11 December 2024 1-2pm

One You Merton Stop Smoking service – Jess Cox

Catch 22 Substance Misuse Service – Kelly Anderson

Wednesday 8 January 2025

1-2pm

Merton Information Advice and Support Service – Shazia Khan

Portage – Wendy Maxey

Wednesday 12 February 2025

1-2pm

Immunisations – TBC

Continuing Care – Vikki Cameron

Wednesday 12 March 2025

1-2pm

Children’s Centre Services – Jackie Doyle

Library Services – Lisa Mustoe

Wednesday 9 April 2025

1-2pm

Salvation Army – Nick Ward

Community Health & Wellbeing Workers – Sherry Xu & Hayley Stride

Wednesday 14 May 2025

1-2pm

Merton IAPT (Improving access to Psychological Therapies) – Sarah McDonald

Wednesday 11 June 2025

1-2pm

Language & Learning Support Team – Julie Rider

Home Start – Sharon Ashby

Wednesday 9 July 2025

1-2pm

Borough of Sport – Janna Scott

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme – Bob Allen

Wednesday 10 September 2025

1-2pm

Met Police Youth Engagement Team – Mark Towler

Youth Participation and Engagement – Sukpal Uppal 

Family Hub Bulletin

You can keep up to date about Family Hub developments through our monthly bulletin. Each edit contains lots of information about local services, national programmes and of course our own transformation journey.  Please take a moment to review what’s been happening, and if you haven’t signed up already, please do so by clinking the link below:

Sign up to receive the Family Hub Bulletin