BOBBIE CHECKS IN AS SUPERNANNY.

Byline: By HOMA KHALEELI

MOVE over Jo Frost - Merseyside is getting its very own Supernanny.

Bobbie Crawford is preparing to tackle anti-social behaviour in Wirral by dealing with the borough's families from hell.

She will start work next week with the parents of the worst yobs, including those singled out to be sent to "Asbo Towers", a planned residential unit for the worst families.

And the borough has now been given another pounds 125,000 by the department for education and skills to clamp down on families who are just beginning to be troublemakers.

The parenting co-ordinator said she knew her post would be tough, but was determined to bring problem families back into line.

Mrs Crawford said: "It's a big job and it will be a very exciting challenge.

"I want to help these families become part of the community and to enjoy being part of a family again. We will target each family individually and give them the support they need."

The job has been dubbed Supernanny after the hit Channel 4 show of the same name, which sees nanny Jo Frost sorting out families in crisis.

The Wirral job is funded by the home office as part of the Respect agenda - the region was recently earmarked as a Respect Zone by the government, allowing it extra cash for tackling yobs.

Caroline Laing, head of the borough's anti-social behaviour team, said the Supernanny would play a vital role in cracking down on parents who make their neighbours' lives a misery.

She said: "A main element of her work will be focusing upon the parents of families engaged in the most serious and persistent anti-social behaviour.

"This work with parents will include group work, one to one support and advice and home visits and will be particularly concentrated on those families that are the hardest to help.

Before taking up the Supernanny role, Miss Crawford worked with parents subjected to domestic abuse and violence by their children.

Supernanny's CV

MRS Crawford spent eight years working in Wirral schools as a welfare officer before becoming an education social worker in 1993.

During her time working with troubled youngsters, she has helped implement successful truancy initiatives and launched an 'assertive discipline' course for parents in Bebington.

In 1995 she helped children at South Wirral high come to terms with the murder of classmates Paul Barker, 13, and Robert Gee, 12, at a fishing pond in Eastham.

Since 2005, she has been employed as the parenting co-ordinator for the youth offending service.

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CAPTION(S):

ROLE MODEL: TV Supernanny Jo Frost; ARRIVAL: Bobbie Crawford, parenting co-ordinator in Wirral