A BURY scheme to help "problem" children and families has been chosen as a "pathfinder" for the country.

The Family Group Meeting Service is one of only six projects in Britain to be selected by the Local Government Association (LGA).

Staff will now be working with the Government to cut through red tape and improve the service, and pass on their expertise to others.

Mr Keith Berry, family group meeting co-ordinator, said the service aimed to put the extended family at the centre of decision-making about their child. "Our service is culturally sensitive and the outcome is a plan developed by the family which makes use of agency, community and family resources to improve the welfare of the child," he said.

"Since we were established we have been extremely well received by families and children and have covered issues such as behaviour, accommodation, child protection, school attendance and exclusion, mental health, offending and disability."

Mr Berry said that, when asked, 100 per cent of family members said they would recommend this way of working to others. Four months after a family group meeting, nearly 70 per cent of families said that their situation had improved.

Councillor Mike Connolly, executive member for health, housing and social services, said: "To be chosen as a pathfinder underlines the high quality service we have developed."

The service wants to encourage early referral of children by outside agencies, from the police, health service, voluntary groups and schools.