A team at Cornwall Council has received a national quality assurance award for its commitment to providing the best information, advice and assistance (IAA) to mums, dads, carers and parents-to-be.

Cornwall Family Information Service (FIS) received a ‘Families First Quality Award’ after assessors deemed it complied with strict standards set by national charity Coram Family and Childcare.

The accreditation also acknowledges the high level of support offered to families of children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).

It comes following a comprehensive assessment process that included interviews with managers, staff, parents and carers as well as in-depth reviews of key plans, strategies and communications channels.

Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, cabinet member for children and families at Cornwall Council, said: “This accreditation is fantastic news for the council’s Together for Families service and testament to the hard work and dedication of our brilliant family information service team.

“It makes me incredibly proud that our staff continue to be recognised for the top-quality services they provide, all of which make a vital contribution towards making Cornwall a brilliant place to be a child and grow up, which is one of the council’s top priorities.

“Congratulations to everyone in FIS for doing so much to improve the lives of parents, carers, children and families across our communities.”

Cornwall’s Family Information Service is part of a wider, multi-disciplinary team based in the council’s Early Help Hub supporting swift and easy access to child and family services. 

Its duty is to provide information, advice and assistance (IAA) and a signposting service to help parents, carers and prospective parents make choices about childcare and other services and activities for young people in their area.

The team offers free, confidential and impartial information about local settings, services and support for children aged 0-19 years (or up to 25 for children with disabilities). This includes funded childcare, related activities and services, and the ‘local offer’ for children with SEND.

FIS advisors staff a telephone helpline, with advice and information also provided via email, text messages and social media. The team also maintains an online directory that is constantly updated to make sure all childcare and family services information is accurate.

Assessors said parents and carers they interviewed reported that emails and telephone calls are responded to “very quickly”, and signposting and referrals are followed up “until needs are met, particularly when a family has complex needs.”

The FIS team is “committed to continuous improvement, and to partnership working to extend the reach and impact of the service”, assessors said.

Tiffany Kerr-Knight, Together for Families parenting lead and family information service team lead, said: “I am immensely proud of the hard work and commitment put in by every member of the FIS team and they thoroughly deserve this accreditation and recognition.

“We know there is always more that can be done to make our offer and services even better and we are determined to keep doing our very best for families in Cornwall.”