More than 120,000 "troubled" families will benefit from a £448m plan aimed at turning their lives around, under government plans announced on Thursday.
David Cameron outlined plans for a network of "troubleshooters" who will be paid to help families, saying no one was beyond recovery.
The prime minister said plans are part of his passion in politics - building a "stronger society" in the wake of the riots in England.
"My mission in politics - the thing I am really passionate about - is fixing the responsibility deficit," he said.
During a Q&A session following his speech Cameron accepted there was a "connection between the riots that we saw and the action that we're taking".
The British Association of Social Workers said the plans were "Dickensian".
"The prime minister's comments about a 'string of well-meaning, disconnected officials' are more applicable to the members of his government than to social workers. This is yet another pointless attack on the very people whose life work it is to help others."