Council chiefs are drawing up a million-pound plan to safeguard some of the region’s most vulnerable children, The Courier can reveal.
The new strategy will target youngsters whose families are grappling with substance misuse, mental health issues and domestic violence.
It will also focus on parents struggling to cope with raising their primary-age children.
Perth and Kinross Council has invited service providers to a consultation later this year. Feedback will be used to shape the new programme, which will involve a revamp of existing services.
A spokeswoman said: “The council is seeking to tender/commission services to provide focused and targeted support to families with specific needs in their homes and local communities.
“This is an exercise to consider the reshaping of existing service provision, rather than the creation of a new service provision.”
She added: “This is the first stage of that process whereby we will invite potential providers to attend a consultation meeting to discuss what they might have to offer in more detail before we then make a decision about which service providers we would engage with.
“This approach will help ensure we get the most appropriate service providers working with children, young people and their families who require intensive support.”
Lifelong Learning Committee convener Caroline Shiers added: “This is really a first step, but certainly a positive one to ensure local families receive the support they need at the time they need it.”
Councillor Peter Barrett, who leads the Housing and Communities Committee described the scheme as “an excellent example of early intervention and prevention”.
He added: “The work is targeted at children whose parents experience alcohol and substance misuse problems, domestic violence or suffer mental ill health. These are children whose childhood and futures we need to secure.
“This is about engaging with parents to improve their capacity to care for their children, build their ability and practical parenting skills and encourage family routine.”
Mr Barrett said: “The success of the service is measured by improving the life chances of the children.”
According to details issued to service providers, the strategy is likely to be a two-pronged approach worth about £917,000.
One part of the plan will engage with parents of five-to-11 year-olds “to improve their capacity to care for their children, build their ability and practical parenting skills.
“The service will be flexible and encourage the building of family routine and parental responsibility,” the brief states.
The other section will “respond to the needs” of children aged eight to 16, who have experienced drugs, violence and other issues in the home.
Talks between council officers and service providers will take place in October.
