Five London boroughs have jointly commissioned a new programme to help vulnerable young people stay out of care.

The Positive Families Partnership, backed by impact investor Bridges Fund Management, will be used for the first time in London by the boroughs of Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Bexley, Merton and Newham.

It will work with more than 350 young people identified at risk of going into care due to serious anti-social behaviour and/or substance misuse, providing them and their families with access to intensive therapeutic programmes.

Chair of the Positive Families Partnership, David Burnett, said: ‘When a similar programme was trialled in Essex, we found that the outcomes contract structure allowed us to invest in improving the way these therapies were delivered.

‘This new partnership will allow us to draw on the lessons learned in Essex to deliver even better outcomes for these families.'

Cllr Ruth Dombey, leader of Sutton LBC, which will manage the contract, said: ‘Finding better solutions for these young people has become one of our biggest challenges so we're really proud that we have been able to join forces with our colleagues in such an innovative project.

‘We believe it has real potential to show that, when commissioning children's services, innovation and collaboration can help find new solutions to some of our most difficult social challenges.'

The agreement has been structured as a social outcomes contract so Positive Families Partnership will be paid only if it succeeds in meeting certain milestones.