Almost 700 troubled families in Rochdale

There are almost 700 troubled families living in Rochdale.

The latest figures have been released as plans to radically transform the lives of the country’s most troubled families have been announced.

The estimated figures show that 675 families are considered as “troubled” in Rochdale. 

This compares to 680 in neighbouring Oldham and 385 in Bury.

The total figure for Greater Manchester is 8,090. And, the total for North West is 19,385.

The government has announced that almost £450million has been made available to turn around the lives of 120,000 of some of the country’s most troubled families by the end of this Parliament.

Figures show that troubled families cost the tax payer an estimated £9billion per year, equivalent to £75,000 per family. This is spent on protecting the children in these families and responding to the crime and anti-social behaviour they perpetrate. The costs are exemplified by the fact that children who live in troubled families are 36 times more likely to be excluded from school and six times more likely to have been in care or to have contact with the police.

A new Troubled Families Team based within the Department for Communities and Local Government and headed by Louise Casey CB, has been established to join up efforts across Whitehall, provide expert help to local areas and drive forward the strategy.

The £450million means the Government will offer up to 40 per cent of the cost of dealing with these families to local authorities - but on a payment-by-results basis when they and their partners achieve success with families. For the first time, the Government has outlined the headline goals and how success will be measured with the following, straightforward, criteria: 

• Children back into school;
• Reduce their criminal and anti-social behaviour;
• Parents on the road back to work, and
• Reduce the costs to the taxpayer and local authorities. 

The new programme will also fund a national network of Troubled Family 'Trouble-Shooters' who will be appointed by local councils. The trouble-shooters will oversee the programme of action in their area. Their responsibilities will include making sure the right families are getting the right type of help, that sanctions are in place when needed, and that positive results are being achieved with the troubled families in their area.

This will be backed by a new, concerted national push from the government to give this vital work a renewed impetus and higher profile, but also build on the successful work already going on in areas of the country.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “120,000 families are a big problem for this country. If you live near one you know very well who they are. And local services like police, health and schools also know who they are, because they spend a disproportionate amount of time and money dealing with them.

“These families are both troubled and causing trouble. We want to get to the bottom of their problems and resolve them – for their own good, and for the good of their communities.”