Supporting Families Practice Team

• When and how to initiate a Families First Assessment
• How to complete the Families First Assessment and Action Plan & Review forms
• Ensuring the strengths and views of the whole family including the voice of the child and young person are embedded into the process
• How to create the Team Around the Family - What service to be involved
• Ensuring that Early Help Module tools and processes are used effectively, and with timely reviews
• How to progress the Family First Episode effectively
• Complex cases including those stepped down from Children’s Services
• Follow-on bespoke training in all areas of the Family First Early Help process
• Support you to understand the Family First Episode and Team Around Family process
• Support can be provided by telephone, email and/or one-to-one visits (see contact details below).
• We can attend and facilitate review meetings/Team Around the Family meetings in any of the following circumstances:
  
  
  • The Key Worker is unfamiliar with the Family First process i.e. new to the process
  • The Key Worker is struggling to draw together the relevant professionals
  • The Key Worker has concerns around the case.

Below are the contact details for all districts:-

Broxbourne & East Herts & Welwyn/Hatfield

Senior FF Coordinator: Mandi Tsamados
Tel: 01992 555808 Comnet: 25808
mandi.tsamados@hertfordshire.gov.uk

FF Coordinator: Charlotte Saggers
Tel: 01438 843070 Comnet: 53070
charlotte.saggers@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Dacorum &St Albans

Senior FF Coordinator: Helen Whyman
Tel: 01438 844746 Comnet: 54746
helen.whyman1@hertfordshire.gov.uk

FF Coordinator: Sarah Ellis
Tel: 01438 843119 Comnet: 53119
sarah.ellis@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Stevenage & North Herts

Senior FF Coordinator: Suzanne Paisley (Mon – Wed) / Holly Turl (Wed – Fri)
Tel: 01438 843519 Comnet: 53519 / Tel: 01438 843794 Comnet: 53794
suzanne.paisley@hertfordshire.gov.uk / holly.turl@hertfordshire.gov.uk

FF Coordinator: Jackie Brewin
Tel: 01438 844982 Comnet: 54982
jackie.brewin@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Watford & Three Rivers & Hertsmere

Senior FF Coordinator: Shelly Cook
Tel: 01438 843383 Comnet: 53383
Shelly.cook@hertfordshire.gov.uk

FF Coordinator (Mat. Leave until Sept 24) : Jacky Reynolds
Tel: 01438 844097 Comnet: 54097 jacqueline.reynolds@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Countywide

FF Coordinator – Georgina Lusby
Tel: 01438 844269 Comnet: 54269
georgina.lusby@hertfordshire.gov.uk

More information on Families First Assessments and the Early Help Module can be found here: Early Help – information for professionals and partners (hertfordshire.gov.uk)

Introduction to the SEND Local Offer website’ – webinar

The Local Offer website lets parents, young people and professionals know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them. There is so much more than that, too.

A friendly face from the Local Offer team will take you through what’s on the website and how you can use it to find the right services and support.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

No need to register, just copy and paste the below dates in your calendars:-

(For professionals)  Thursday 11 January 2pm – 3pm Click here to join the meeting

(For professionals) Tuesday 16 January 10am – 11am Click here to join the meeting

(For professionals AND parent carers) Tuesday 16 January 8pm – 9pm Click here to join the meeting

A quick note: The Local Offer website is different to Short Breaks (SBLO). We won’t be going into detail about SBLO.

 

Chrysalis Centre are Inspiring Change

Chrysalis Centre is a ground-breaking programme of interventions to break the cycle of domestic abuse making victims, families and communities safer. This is achieved by challenging underlying abusive behaviours and providing education and support to enable healthy, safe and positive relationships. Central to the role of Chrysalis Centre is the effective screening of referrals to understand causation factors, including Adverse Childhood Experiences, substance or alcohol dependencies.

Working across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, the Chrysalis Centre brings together a range of professionals from healthcare, criminal justice and behavioural change experts to introduce clinical, behavioural and support interventions to achieve positive and potentially life affirming futures.

Find out more:- Chrysalis Centre

Download the leaflet here

Migration to Universal Credit from Feb 24!

The DWP have confirmed that tax credit claimants in Hertfordshire will start to be invited to switch to Universal Credit (UC) from February 2024. Up to now, UC was triggered by a change of circumstance or someone claiming voluntarily. From February, DWP will be sending out ‘migration notices’, giving people 3 months to make their UC claim before their tax credit ends. The only people who will be exempted from managed migration at this stage are those who are getting income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Where managed migration is already in operation, only 73% of those eligible to switch to UC have done so, losing an average £300 a month each, so it’s important to encourage people to respond when they get their migration notice.   

For more information about UC, managed migration and the ‘transitional protection’ that is supposed to stop claimants from losing income when they switch, contact the Money Advice Unit adviceline on 01438 843444 (comnet 53444) or moneyadvice.unit@hertfordshire.gov.uk

 

 

News from Services for Young People

Parents and carers get support and guidance with emotionally-based school avoidance at Hemel Hempstead Young People's Centre

Services for Young People (SfYP) is working in partnership with the St Albans and Dacorum Delivering Special Provision Locally groups (DSPL 7 and 8) to offer a series of drop-in support sessions for families dealing with the impact of emotionally-based school avoidance.

Emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA) describes reduced or non-attendance at school by a child or young person due to emotional, mental health or wellbeing issues.

• Read the full story including dates of the next sessions

Support for home educated young people

SfYP offers ongoing youthwork projects specifically designed to address the unique needs of home educated young people, including those who are experiencing emotionally-based school avoidance. The projects are welcoming and inclusive, providing the opportunity for young people to socialise and get support, learn skills for managing their emotional wellbeing, resilience, confidence, teamwork skills and goal setting for the future.

Young people can also drop into to SfYP young people's centres where qualified Advisers and Youth Workers provide information, advice and support on a range of subjects.

• Find out more about how SfYP supports home educated young people

SfYP supports White Ribbon Day and 16 Days of Activism

SfYP was proud to support this year’s campaigns against gender-based violence. Its work with young people helps them to develop healthy relationships and challenge harmful attitudes to create a safer future for everyone.

SfYP has developed a range of youth work programmes to help young people stay safe, which are delivered in our projects across the county. These empower young people to recognise and develop healthy relationships, understand allyship, and challenge harmful gender norms and inequalities.

• Read the full story with information about SfYP’s staying safe programmes

 

 

 

New Neurodiversity Support Hub

We are delighted to let you know about the launch of The Neurodiversity Support Hub. Following a pilot phase, we are excited to be able to roll this out across Hertfordshire thanks to funding from both Herts County Council (HCC) and the NHS. The Hub has initially been funded until the end of March 25 and ADD-Vance have been commissioned to run the Hub, which is open Monday - Friday 9am-1pm.

The Hub is staffed by experts by experience, they can answer any questions to do with Neurodiversity, however big or small, or just be a listening ear. Please note, no diagnosis is required to access the support and the helpline is open to parents, carers and professionals.

The Hub can be contacted by phone on 01727 833963, with an answerphone facility for out of hours or by email at support@add-vance.org

Please share this information with your parents/carers/staff and colleagues. 

We also have some new digital webinars which parent, carers and professionals can access on demand.  Initially we have webinars on Understanding Autism, Understanding ADHD, Navigating the SEND world and Navigating the SEND world post 16.   Over the coming months we will be expanding this offer to include several other topics. They can be accessed here SEND documents and resources (hertfordshire.gov.uk)

If you have any queries or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me or alternatively you can contact the project team on hct.hertsneurodiversitytransformation@nhs.net

 

The feedback we have received so far has been fantastic, here is a small sample:

• I was stuck in a moment where I didn’t know which way to turn. Your helpline saved me today and put me in the right direction, made me feel less alone and has given me hope. thank you, I feel stronger just by knowing what to do next.

• I was feeling especially low and unsupported as a neurodivergent parent with neurodivergent kids. The call was such a life-line and the practical resources emailed to me afterwards are very useful. All in all, your service has kept me going during a particularly difficult time. Thank you.

• Amazing support. I was lost without L’s help, experience, advice, and support. I felt overwhelmed and now feel very supported and have direction. I felt I was heard and had the time and space I needed and could speak without being judged and ask anything. This service is incredible!

Parenting SEN children when Separated - Family Lives online groups

Family Lives are delivering the below online groups, funded by Herts County Council, for parents/carers who live in Hertfordshire.

All our programmes provide support, information and resources to parents/carers and adult family members so they can help their child reach their full potential as well as access to the wraparound support provided by our helpline, live chat and website.

Parenting SEN Children when Separated

Parenting SEN Children when separated’ 6-week programme is specifically tailored to help separated parents navigate the complexities of co-parenting and provide the best possible support for their SEND child.  This is a valuable opportunity to enhance co-parenting skills, support children’s development and build a strong foundation for the future.

Monday 8, 15 & 22 January 2024 (SPACES STILL AVAILABLE)

7.00pm – 9.00pm
MS Teams

Thursdays 11, 18 & 25 January and 1, 8 & 15 February 2024

7.00pm – 9.00pm
MS Teams

Mondays, 29 January, 5, 12 & 26 February and 4 & 11 March 2024

7.00pm – 9.00pm
MS Teams

Who can attend:

• Separated parents raising children with SEND.
• Parents seeking guidance, support, and strategies for co-parenting SEN children more consistently.
• Parents wanting to create a positive and supportive environment for their child’s development.

To book a place please click here for our online referral form Reducing Parental Conflict Parenting , or for further information please call 0204 522 8700 / 0204 522 8699 or email services@familylives.org.uk

Within My Reach

Within my Reach 8-week programme is for specifically designed for parents living together or apart, who are facing conflicts and struggling to find common ground in raising their neurodiverse child.  This is a valuable opportunity to enhance relationships, strengthen parenting skills and create a more harmonious home environment

Two courses will be delivered MS Teams over 8 sessions on the following dates :

Tuesdays & Thursdays 27 & 29 February, 5 & 7 March, 12 & 14 March and 19 & 21 March 2024

7.00pm to 9.00pm
Via MS Teams 

Wednesdays & Saturdays 28 February & 2 March, 6 & 9 March, 13 & 16 March and 20 & 23 March 2024

Wednesday 7-9pm & Saturdays 10am-12pm
Via MS Teams 

Who can attend:

• Parents who are experiencing conflicts and challenges due to the neurodiversity of their child
• Parents who want to improve communication and build stronger partnership in parenting and coparenting their neurodiverse child.
• Parents seeking guidance, support, and practical strategies to navigate the unique challenges of raising a neurodiverse child.

To book a place please click here for our online referral form Reducing Parental Conflict Parenting , or for further information please call 0204 522 8700 / 0204 522 8699 or email services@familylives.org.uk

 

Cost of Living Support

Hertfordshire County Council have put together a very helpful page with a range of marketing materials and content to help you promote support for residents during the rising cost of living. 

Whether you interact with the public in your day job or as a volunteer, we understand how important it is that you can direct residents to trusted sources of help and advice in Hertfordshire when needed.

Find out more here:- Cost of living toolkit | Hertfordshire County Council

Contraception Champion Scheme

We are delighted to be launching a ‘Contraception Champion’ scheme. This is a Hertfordshire County Council led initiative for frontline practitioners and professionals across a wide range of organisations and services. Our aim is to encourage conversations with residents and service users that promote contraception and good sexual health and signposting to contraception and sexual health services. We will be working with local Sexual Health service providers to provide information, updates, and training around sexual health in Hertfordshire. 

Who can be a Contraception Champion?

This scheme is open to frontline practitioners and professionals in Hertfordshire, including from Children’s Services, Health, Education, and adults services including social care, drugs and alcohol etc.

A Contraception Champion is a practitioner who:

• Pro-actively has conversations that promote good sexual health and the use of contraception through their role working with residents and service-users.
• Signposts residents and service-users towards local contraception and sexual health services.
• Promotes key prevention messages to all sexually active men and women, highlighting how individuals can reduce their risk of catching or passing on HIV, an STI, or risking an unplanned pregnancy.
• Engages with training and learning and development opportunities on an ongoing basis to enhance their knowledge related to contraception and sexual health.

The Contraception Champion scheme does not:

• Expect you to give clinical information and advice around sexual health or regarding specific forms of contraception, beyond the training you have received within your specific role.
• Replace your individual organisation’s Learning and Development programmes or training, including for clinical or specialist sexual health or healthcare staff, which remains the responsibility of individual organisations.

What support is available?

• ‘Ask me about Contraception’ champion guidance.
• Initial resource pack, including badge.
• Training opportunities related to contraception and sexual health.
• Newsletter with relevant information, service provision and updates.

How can I sign up?

You can sign up here: 

Download the leaflet here

Nessie Early Help Parenting Support Service

NESSie offer free parent/carer workshops aimed to help parents/carers in developing a positive and more confident approach to support their young person, whilst offering a chance to gain peer support, useful strategies, and practical tools. 

• Topics covered may include, but are not limited to:
  • Anxiety and building resilience,
  • self-harming behaviours,
  • school avoidance,
  • bereavement and loss including divorce and separation,
  • disordered eating,
  • supporting a child or young person who is gender questioning,
  • managing meltdowns
    
    
• Parent Support line: 07932 651319 (open Thursdays 9am-12noon or by appointment)
• Private moderated Facebook support group
• 1-1 targeted brief support sessions, and peer support groups
• ‘Drop In and Chat Coffee Mornings’ where parents/carers can discuss anything and everything