The Step Up, Step Down (SUSD) family support service in Pembrokeshire has received national commendation for its work to keep children safely with their families, the county council has confirmed.
What the scheme does
Led locally by The Fostering Network in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, the scheme provides a mixture of practical and therapeutic interventions designed to bolster family resilience and reduce the need for children to enter the statutory care system. Services include parenting programmes, mentoring and supervision alongside community-based activities.
- Reach to date: more than 30 parents and carers supported
- Children and young people helped: 43
- Original funding: Welsh Government and The KPMG Foundation
Local leaders welcome the recognition
Chris Frey-Davies, head of children’s services at Pembrokeshire County Council, described the accolade as evidence of the dedication of those involved, especially foster carers. The council says the approach aligns with its guiding principle that, where it is safe and in a child’s best interests, children should be supported to remain within family and community networks.
“This award is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved, particularly our foster carers, whose compassion, skill, and commitment have been instrumental in supporting children and families through challenging times.”
Councillor Marc Tierney, cabinet member for young people and the well-being of future generations, highlighted the scheme’s role in lowering the number of children entering the care system.
Funding and sustainability
The SUSD programme was introduced in Pembrokeshire following a successful pilot in Northern Ireland and was initially funded by the Welsh Government and The KPMG Foundation. The council states that plans are now in place to secure longer-term delivery locally, although precise details on future funding arrangements were not provided in the announcement.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Parents and carers supported | 30+ |
| Children and young people supported | 43 |
| Funders (initial) | Welsh Government; The KPMG Foundation |
What this means for Pembrokeshire
For local services, the national recognition underlines a shift toward strengths-based, community-rooted support that aims to preserve family ties and local networks. For residents the scheme represents an alternative to statutory care placements, favouring interventions intended to stabilise family situations and protect relationships that matter to children.
While the council has not published detailed projections of how many more families could be supported if funding continues, the current numbers indicate early, measurable impact. Sustaining and expanding the service will depend on finalising long-term funding arrangements and continuing partnership working between The Fostering Network and the county council.
As the council develops sustainability plans, local elected members and service leaders will face decisions about resource allocation amid wider pressures on social care budgets — a matter that will be of interest to residents concerned about children's services and foster-care capacity in Pembrokeshire.
