FAMILIES in County Durham who need extra support are being offered help from a new service.

A Family Pathfinder service being piloted in the Sedgefield, Easington and Derwentside areas will help families where children are suffering because their parents are using drugs, there is domestic abuse, or parents are mentally ill or have a learning disability.

Through it Durham County Council’s children and adult services will work with joint funders County Durham PCT and other organisations including police and the voluntary sector.

The council made one of 15 successful bids out of 90 across the country last year for an extra £780,000 worth of funding over three years.

Family Pathfinder teams include workers from a wide range of backgrounds such as housing, education, social work, nursing, early years and youth work.

Councillor Claire Vasey, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: "Where families are facing complex problems and these problems are having a negative impact on children, it is vital that they get the support they need.

"The Family Pathfinder scheme means we will look at the needs of the whole family and make sure they get the right help at the right time."

Councillor Morris Nichols, cabinet member for adult services, added: "We expect this service to make a big difference to families who are facing the most difficult of circumstances.

"The help and support is there for them and this scheme will strengthen that network of support to ensure it is properly planned and co-ordinated."