The latest news
Working Together in Early Help - Book your place!
Come and hear more about Early Help in Hertfordshire. These events are for professionals working with children, young people, parents and families.
There will be a series of presentations from four key partners about the services they provide and how to make referrals to ensure families are being directed to the most appropriate help:
- Homelessness Prevention Team
- DSPLs
- Herts Sports Partnership
- Emotional and Mental Wellbeing in Education Team
The dates for the sessions and links to Eventbrite to book your place are below:-
East Herts, Broxbourne, Welwyn & Hatfield
Friday 5th May
9.45am-12.30pm
Broxbourne Council Offices
Book here>>
St Albans & Dacorum
Monday 15th May
9.45am – 12.30pm
South Hill Centre, Hemel Hempstead
Book here>>
North Herts & Stevenage
Monday 22nd May
9.45am – 12.30pm
Icknield Centre, Letchworth
Book here>>
Watford, Three Rivers & Hertsmere
Monday 5th June
9.45am – 12.30pm
Three Rivers District Council Offices
Book here>>
Download the leaflet
Families First Awards 2023 - Last chance to Nominate!
We are receiving some fantastic nominations across all our Families First Awards categories, but there is still time to make your nomination! Nominations close on Friday 31 March 2023.
These awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase team and individual successes in Early Help that have made a significant impact to the lives of children, young people and families in Hertfordshire through their outstanding work and achievement of positive outcomes.
This year’s Awards will be held at the South Hill Centre in Hemel Hempstead on Wednesday 10 May at 2pm and all shortlisted candidates will be invited along for an afternoon of celebration and cake ?
There are 6 individual and 5 team categories (view list here) and we will be looking for teams and individuals that have excelled and gone above and beyond their job role. We will be looking for statement of no more than 500 words and you may want to consider the following:
- Personal qualities displayed
- A passion for outcome focused solutions for children, young people and families
- An enthusiasm for finding new ways to listen, capture and respond to the wishes and feelings of children and young people
- This year the judges will also be looking at how our Families First Pledges have been shown in the nominations.
We would also like to put a spotlight on the following awards, to ensure all categories are fully represented :-
- Partnership School of the Year Award
- Collaborative worker of the year
- Early Years Team of the Year
There is also an optional button to add one piece of supporting evidence (e.g. quote, testimonial etc).
Closing date for nominations is Friday 31 March 2023.
MAKE YOUR NOMINATION HERE
Or by scanning the QR code below:
Please tell your teams and colleagues to ensure as many people as possible get the opportunity to make a nomination. (Due to data protection, please DO NOT send on to members of the public).
Parenting When Separated course information
There is strong evidence that conflict between parents – whether together or separated – can have a significant negative impact on children’s mental health and long-term life chances. Not all conflict is damaging, but where this is frequent, intense and poorly resolved it can harm children’s outcomes.
The quality of the inter-parental relationship, specifically how parents communicate and relate to each other, is increasingly recognised as a primary influence on effective parenting practices and children’s future life chances, including attainment and employment.
As part of the offer to Reduce Parental Conflict we have trained practitioners across Early Help to deliver Parenting When Separated.
This is a 6 week course for parents who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce. Highlighting practical steps parents can take to help their children cope and thrive, as well as coping successfully themselves.
The course consists of six group sessions for up to 12 parents, each session will last 2 hours 30 minutes with a 15 minute break.
Topics include:
- Solving co-parenting problems in a positive way that focus on the needs of children.
- Cope with the emotional impact of separation and learn stress management techniques.
- Help your children cope with the impact of the separation both emotionally and practically.
- Enhance communication with their children and with their children's other parent.
You can make a referral on the Relationship support for parents | Hertfordshire County Council
Fit, Fed & Read and the HAPpy camps
There are still spaces available for both the HAPpy Camps and Fit, Fed and Read which are running across Hertfordshire from 3 April – 14 April 2023 (not bank holidays).
These camps are open to children and young people eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM). The aim is to help close the holiday experience gap that some families may face over this period to deliver healthy food alongside sport and physical activity in a fun and safe environment.
Hertfordshire schools gave codes to all families of eligible children. Parents/carers who have not received the code should contact their school office or email haf@herts.ac.uk.
We understand not all families in need meet the FSM criteria, and a small proportion of free places can be provided to families identified by those professionals working with them. A unique code can be issued only to those professionals to share with the family. Any services who work with vulnerable/eligible families and would like a code or wish to promote this further please email haf@herts.ac.uk for more information.
Further information on the camps can be found at the links below:-
HAPpy Camps
Holiday Activity Fund - Herts Sports Partnership (sportinherts.org.uk)
Fit, Fed & Read
50 Things To Do Before You’re Five
As part of our ‘50 Things To Do Before You’re Five’ initiative we’d like to invite you to share your upcoming free or low-cost events with us to publish each half term on the 50 Things To Do Before You’re Five app.
The events could be ones you regularly host or one-off events. To be included your low-cost events need to be free or under £20 for a family of 4 to attend and the deadline for this terms entries is Tuesday 21st March 2023.
Simply provide the following information half termly in advance using our online form and we’ll happily promote them to our users.
- Event title
- Photograph (this could be a photograph of your promotion poster or your logo, but this is not essential)
- Event description (150 words or less)
- Start date and time
- End date and time
- URL to find out more
The ‘50 Things To Do Before You’re Five’ app has had over 2,000 downloads and your events will be shared though the events section on the app. The “50 Things” app is free to download by visiting hertfordshire.50thingstodo.org or through the AppStore or GooglePlay store.
We look forward to hearing from you and if you have any questions, please email 50Things@hfleducation.org.
HENRY Healthy Families Programme - Next Rotation of Programmes, Spring Dates
The HENRY programme runs alongside BeeZee Bodies to offer parents with children under 5 a 8-week HENRY healthy families programme.
The programme is completely free for families and runs both online and face to face. Online is an hour session and face to face is a two hour session, with a creche available to parents. Our next rotation of programs will run in April on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
Over the 8 weeks we cover the following topics using a partnership approach which is strengths based and solution focused.
- Session 1: Let’s get started (what’s a healthy person? Goal setting)
- Session 2: Balancing acts (balance of foods and looking after self in terms of ‘me’ time)
- Session 3: Needs and demands- parenting strategies
- Session 4: Tuning into mealtimes- healthy habits
- Session 5: Time to be active
- Session 6: Eating Healthily- lunchboxes, Portions and food labels
- Session 7: Let’s focus on feelings (listening and empathy)
- Session 8: The way forward (celebrating what parent have achieved and handing out certificates)
More information can be found here and referral form or can use the following link:https://beezeebodies.com/refer-a-client/.
Emergency Foster Carer recruitment
Could you or someone you know be a part of the first national Emergency Foster Carer programme?
Our Fostering Service is introducing the first Emergency Foster Carer programme which will recruit a new type of Foster Carer to support children and young people in need of emergency care as part of the new Family Safeguarding Hub programme.
Emergency foster care can be required for several reasons. Circumstances vary, but children may have been removed from their parents because of drug or alcohol misuse issues, because they are having a difficult time, or are temporarily unable to cope. Emergency foster care ensures children have somewhere safe to stay for 10 days in a crisis while a solution at home can be found or an alternative long-term accommodation with family, friends' carers or a residential provision.
We are looking to recruit an initial four new Foster Carers who will be available at short notice, at night and on weekends, as well as during the day and who will be retained for 52 weeks of the year. Three new emergency fostering outreach practitioners have been recruited to support the Foster Carers.
Each FC will be paid a daily retainer and then additional payments when caring for a young person. If you know a Foster Carer that you think may be interested in taking part, please forward them this to them. You will receive excellent training, learning and development opportunities by taking on this role. If you have any questions, please contact gemma.moloney@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Saving money on childcare costs
Many parents are not aware that if you have a child under the age of 12 (16 with a disability) and currently pay for childcare, you can save up to £2,000 per year by using Tax Free Childcare.
Please help us to ensure families are aware by sharing this message on your social channels.
To find out more please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Childcare Choices | Vouchers, Tax Credits and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
All about Government help with childcare costs, including 15 to 30 hours free childcare, Tax-Free Childcare, tax credits, Universal Credit, vouchers and support while you study.
Are you aware of the NHS Healthy Start scheme in Hertfordshire?
Approximately a million pounds per annum of the NHS Healthy Start scheme in Hertfordshire, is unclaimed and we need your support to continue raising its profile with families you may be working with, who meet the Healthy Start criteria see How to apply – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Eligible families can receive money added onto the Healthy Start card every 4 weeks :i.e.
- £4.25 each week of pregnancy from the 10th week
- £8.50 each week for children from birth to 1 year old
- £4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4 years old
Families can also obtain free Healthy Start vitamins from their local family centre in Hertfordshire – find out more at www.hertsfamilycentres.org/healthystartvitamins
For more information:
Visit Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
Email healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk or
Phone 0300 330 7010.
Learning & development
New dates for Introduction to the SEND Local Offer webinars
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
(For professionals AND parent carers) Tuesday 18 April at 8pm - Click here to join the meeting
(For professionals) Thursday 20 April at 11am - Click here to join the meeting
(For professionals) Friday 21 April at 1pm - Click here to join the meeting
HSCP Learning & Development Programme
HSCP provide a wide variety of learning programmes and workshops across Hertfordshire to develop skills for safeguarding children, young people and adults.
We use this page to give you some quick links through to the HSCP learning programmes:-
News from Step2Skills
The sixth edition of Step2Skills News magazine is out now
The 6th edition of our Step2Skills News magazine has been published both in hard copy and online and is available to read!
Covering February to May, the edition is packed with news and information across our service, including;
✔️ Details from our new Multiply numbers programme
✔️ A tribute to the Hertfordshire community by Ukrainian learner, Yuliia
✔️ Upcoming courses from the Step2Skills network
✔️ How work experience can lead to paid work opportunities
✔️Building Better Opportunities: A lasting legacy
Read it here: http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/Step2Skillsmagazine
Step2Skills April and May timetable is here with learning opportunities at home and at Hertfordshire venues
Step2Skills has released their community learning timetable for April and May, with a variety of courses in different topics.
April courses include;
- Find Your Career Path with Michelle – Starts Tuesday 18th April, from 10am to 12pm – A 2-week course in Stevenage
- Improving Your Skills in Excel with Natalia - Starts Tuesday 18th April, from 10am to 12pm – A 4-week course, delivered online
- Coronation Crochet with Lynne - Starts Tuesday 25th April, from 10am to 12pm – A 2-week online course
- Coronation Bunting with Lynne - Starts Tuesday 25th April, from 1pm to 3pm – A 2-week online course
- Public Speaking and Presentation Skills with Louisa – Starts Wednesday 26th April, from 10am to 12pm – A 5-week online course
- Quilting for Beginners with Beverley – Starts Thursday 27th April, from 10am to 12pm – A 5-week course, online
- Find Your Career Path with Michelle – Starts Tuesday 9th May, from 1pm to 3pm – A 2-week course in Waltham Cross
The beauty of Step2Skills courses and workshops is that they are delivered by teachers to Hertfordshire residents in a small group format to make learners feel more comfortable with sharing ideas and asking questions.
Browse and book online on the Step2Skills website: Event Booking (hertfordshire.gov.uk)
Workforce Shadowing
The vision for Families First training and development is to create a skilled, confident and resilient multi-agency workforce that supports whole family working.
Workforce shadowing provides a great opportunity to find out more about other services, what they do and how they might be able to support you in your work. It also enhances communication across agencies and helps strengthen and develop professional relationships, building local networks.
If you would like to organise a workforce shadowing placement for either yourself or a team member please complete the form below stating the service you would like to shadow and the preferred district and we will match you to a shadowing opportunity.
The following services have offered to host shadowing opportunities in either in person or virtually:-
- Citizens Advice (Brox/St Albans/North Herts)
- Childcare provision
- CGL
- Domestic Abuse Support
- Families First Panels Team
- Family Support Service, Family Centre
- Herts Mind Network
- Herts Sports Partnership
- MIND in Mid Herts
- ASB Team, District Council, Three Rivers
- Housing Support, District Council
- Intensive Family Support Team (IFST)
- Local School Partnerships
- Police
- Public Health Nursing
- Schools Early Years Provsion
- Specialist Adolescent Services Hertfordshire (SASH)
- Services for Young People
- Supporting Families Practice Team
Additionally, if you would like to add your service to the above list, again please email us with your contact details, service and district.
Familesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Please take a look at the page, bookmark and share with teams, where appropriate.
Workforce development (hertfordshire.gov.uk)
Money Advice Unit Training Programme, Spring & Summer 2023
The Money Advice Unit Training Programme and booking form for SPRING & SUMMER 2023 is now available.
All these courses are free of charge for Hertfordshire organisations. Due to demand, we only allow a maximum of two participants from each organisation per course.
The training courses are a mixture of face to face delivery and online, using Zoom or MS Teams. Please see each individual course description for more details and timings.
Our courses are a combination of single and double days run over mornings or afternoons. Please make a careful note of dates and the timing of the courses while booking them.
Instructions for how to access our online courses will be emailed to you once your booking is confirmed along with course material.
Our face-to-face courses are held at: Hertfordshire Development Centre, Robertson House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ.
There is a restaurant where you can buy lunch and refreshments, or you can bring your own food. If you have any queries or need further assistance, please contact Hertfordshire Development Centre on 01438 845114.
My Teen Brain Online Training for Practitioners
Early Help Commissioning are pleased to announce the upcoming My Teen Brain Online Training course for Hertfordshire practitioners. The course focuses on the development of the teenage brain and enables practitioners to understand some of the challenges and factors that contribute to the makeup of some of the young people that we work with.
Please find below the link to the upcoming online webinar, which will be delivered on Tuesday 25th April 2023. This training is a very popular course and is beneficial to the all practitioners who work with Hertfordshire children and families. Can I please ask that you share this email amongst your teams and remind them to ONLY book on to this course if they have the capacity to attend the training for the entire duration, which is from 10am – 3pm.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/328060075517
Difference we're making
Outstanding by Ofsted!
Hertfordshire Children's Services were rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What Ofsted said about early help in Hertfordshire:-
"Hertfordshire’s early help service and family safeguarding teams make a positive difference for children, identifying and tackling need early on and reducing the number of children who need to come into care".
"Children in Hertfordshire receive the right level of support at the right time. Practitioners undertake focused direct work with children and ensure that children’s and families’ experiences and views inform assessments and plans. Comprehensive early help assessments are completed. A range of practitioners with specific roles carry out focused work, with appropriate oversight and supervision. The resulting plans are thorough in identifying needs, actions, clarity of role and responsibility and timescales. When children’s circumstances improve or there are increased concerns, smooth transitions between early help and statutory services lead to families receiving support at the right level, ensuring that risk is escalated appropriately. This enables families to understand the nature of the concerns and what help is being offered".
Families First - Performance Data Report
You may be interested to view our Families First Performance Data report for the period Oct 2021 - Sept 2022.
The report looks at Families First Assessments that took place within the period and highlights the presenting needs and outcomes broken down by district along with information about other support for families.
The Families First Pledge
In Hertfordshire we have a shared vision that strong partnership working is a key component to our early help system. Our Early Help Strategy sets out the Pledge which explains Families First partners’ commitment to families and how we will work with them.
You can view or download a copy of our Families First Pledges here and use for discussion in your team meetings or display in your office etc.
Celebrating Excellence in Early Help
Following on from a programme of Celebrating Excellence in Early Help sessions run in Children’s Services last month, which aimed to highlight the Families First approach and also included contributions from some of our partners, we are sharing some of the recent case below:
Case Study 1 - Intensive Family Support / Local Borough Council
Scene Setting
The Intensive Family Support team (IFST) began supporting this family of nine in Spring 2021.
As support got underway the third youngest child Tia* was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and the family are struggling coming to terms with Tia’s diagnosis and her life expectancy of one year. Tia is 11 years old.
On learning of Tia’s prognosis and following discussion with Keech Hospice an Occupational Therapist (OT) appointment was arranged for the family’s home. This assessment identified that the three-bedroom home was not suitable for end-of-life care and was not suitable for adaptation as the access was too narrow and steep for a ramp.
The Family Intervention Worker (FIW) made contact with the local Borough Council’s Aids and Adaptions Team for support.
READ MORE
Case Study 2 - Families First Assessment
Scene Setting
This case study provides some insight into the journey of Fran* and her family. Fran is an eight year old girl who worries about her mum, she knows mum is different when she is with her drinking friends. Fran’s Mum has a diagnosis of unstable personality disorder and has previously used drugs and alcohol as coping strategies, she has been in a cycle of poor mental health and whilst their wider family network have been supporting Fran and her mother they sought out some external support via a Families First Assessment.
READ MORE
Case Study 3 - Employment Adviser/IFST
Scene Setting:
This case study provides some insight into the support provided to Sanz* from one of our Employment Advisers. Our Intensive Family Support Teams include Employment Advisers who provide tailored support in areas such as employability; taking time to understand skills and experiences, any barriers or challenges preventing employment, identification of any training to support employability, preparation of supporting statements and CVs and job search support, including mock interviews.
Our Advisers can also provide guidance on how to navigate the benefits system, including benefit entitlements and claims, as well as how changes in circumstances impact benefits.
They work in parallel with Family Intervention Workers. This case study summarises support given to Sanz, the mother, to support with employability and benefits.
READ MORE
Please share anonymised case studies highlighting how early help and partnership working has provided support to local families with us at familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk. Please ensure you have consent from the family.
Call for Case Studies & Testimonials
As the Supporting Families Programme (formerly the Troubled Families) reaches its 10 year anniversary, we would like to recognise and celebrate all the great work that has taken place across the Families First partnership.
We are collating a selection of case studies, testimonials and photos from partners to showcase all the good work that has taken place.
If you would like to contribute please send any details to familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk