NINE out of ten problem families have been “turned around” under a council scheme, new figures show.

Oxfordshire County Council said 725 of the 810 families it has worked with have changed for the better under its Thriving Families programme.

It makes the county the 10th most successful in the country compared to the national average success rate of 59 per cent.

A successful “turnaround” is defined as when children who were truanting or excluded have now been back in school for three consecutive terms.

It also demands a “significant” cut in youth crime and anti-social behaviour and an adult coming off benefits into work for at least three months running.

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Council staff work with police, health services, probation, schools, job centres and voluntary agencies to put together an action plan.

Common problems include health and mental health, domestic violence and debt.

Cabinet member for children, education and families Melinda Tilley said: “This is further confirmation that the tough but supportive approach at the heart of the Thriving Families project is giving Oxfordshire families the help they need to turn themselves around and make lasting changes to their lives.

“We look forward to continuing this work into the next phase of the project and building on the successes achieved so far.”

Blackbird Leys’ Stefanie Perry has been working with a council worker Stephanie Danso for almost a year.

Miss Perry, 36, said: “She’s been working with my son Kane, who’s 16, to find work. She took him for job interviews this week.

“I’m a full-time carer but I want to get back into work too, so she’s been helping me with my CV and things.

“I’ve done courses in first aid and all sorts because of her.”

The mum-of-five said it helped keep children Kye, six and Callie, five from going to different schools.

They both now attend Pegasus Primary School in Field Avenue.

She said: “My kids have always been in school and we’re not a bad family.

“People shouldn’t call this the troubled families scheme because it puts people off, and it does help. More people should join it.”

Councils get £4,000 for each family “turned around” and the county council has got £2.5m so far and is expected to get £2.7m by the spring. It also hopes to have taken on more than 400 new families by the end of March.

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